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成周既成，迁殷顽民，周公以王命诰，作《》。 |
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惟三月，周公初于新邑洛，用告商王士。 |
| Numerous Officers: |
In the third month, at the commencement (of the government) of the duke of Zhou in the new city of Luo, he announced (the royal will) to the officers of the Shang dynasty, saying: |
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王若曰：“尔殷遗多士，弗吊旻天，大降丧于殷，我有周佑命，将天明威，致王罚，敕殷命终于帝。肆尔多士！非我小国敢弋殷命。惟天不畀允罔固乱，弼我，我其敢求位？惟帝不畀，惟我下民秉为，惟天明畏。 |
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'The king speaks to this effect: "Ye numerous officers who remain from the dynasty of Yin, great ruin came down on Yin from the cessation of forbearance in compassionate Heaven, and we, the lords of Zhou, received its favouring decree. We felt charged with its bright terrors, carried out the punishments which kings inflict, rightly disposed of the appointment of Yin, and finished (the work of) God. Now, ye numerous officers, it was not our small state that dared to aim at the appointment belonging to Yin. But Heaven was not with (Yin), for indeed it would not strengthen its misrule. It (therefore) helped us; did we dare to seek the throne of ourselves? God was not for (Yin), as appeared from the mind and conduct of our inferior people, in which there is the brilliant dreadfulness of Heaven."' |
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我闻曰：“上帝引逸，有夏不适逸；则惟帝降格，向于时夏。弗克庸帝，大淫泆有辞。惟时天罔念闻，厥惟废元命，降致罚；乃命尔先祖成汤革夏，俊民甸四方。自成汤至于帝乙，罔不明德恤祀。亦惟天丕建，保乂有殷，殷王亦罔敢失帝，罔不配天其泽。在今后嗣王，诞罔显于天，矧曰其有听念于先王勤家？诞淫厥泆，罔顾于天显民祗，惟时上帝不保，降若兹大丧。惟天不畀不明厥德，凡四方小大邦丧，罔非有辞于罚。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
'I have heard the saying, "God leads men to tranquil security," but the sovereign of Xia would not move to such security, whereupon God sent down corrections, indicating his mind to him. (Jie), however, would not be warned by God, but proceeded to greater dissoluteness and sloth and excuses for himself. Then Heaven no longer regarded nor heard him, but disallowed his great appointment, and inflicted extreme punishment. Then it charged your founder, Tang the Successful, to set Xia aside, and by means of able men to rule the kingdom. From Tang the Successful down to Di-Yi, every sovereign sought to make his virtue illustrious, and duly attended to the sacrifices. And thus it was that, while Heaven exerted a great establishing influence, preserving and regulating the House of Yin, its sovereigns on their part were humbly careful not to lose (the favour of) God, and strove to manifest a good-doing corresponding to that of Heaven. But in these times, their successor showed himself greatly ignorant of (the ways of) Heaven, and much less could it be expected of him that he would be regardful of the earnest labours of his fathers for the country. Greatly abandoned to dissolute idleness, he gave no thought to the bright principles of Heaven, and the awfulness of the people. On this account God no longer protected him, but sent down the great ruin which we have witnessed. Heaven was not with him, because he did not make his virtue illustrious. (Indeed), with regard to the overthrow of all states, great and small, throughout the four quarters of the kingdom, in every case reasons can be given for their punishment.' |
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王若曰：“尔殷多士，今惟我周王丕灵承帝事，有命曰：‘割殷，’告敕于帝。惟我事不贰适，惟尔王家我适。予其曰惟尔洪无度，我不尔动，自乃邑。予亦念天，即于殷大戾，肆不正。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
The king speaks to this effect: "Ye numerous officers of Yin, the case now is this, that the kings of our Zhou, from their great goodness, were charged with the work of God. There was the charge to them, 'Cut off Yin.' (They proceeded to perform it), and announced the execution of their service to God. In our affairs we have followed no double aims; ye of the royal House (of Yin) must (now simply) follow us. May I not say that you have been very lawless? I did not (want to) remove you. The thing came from your own city. When I consider also how Heaven has drawn near to Yin with so great tribulations, it must be that there was (there) what was not right." |
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王曰：“猷！告尔多士，予惟时其迁居西尔，非我一人奉德不康宁，时惟天命。无违，朕不敢有后，无我怨。 |
| Numerous Officers: |
'The king says, "Ho! I declare to you, ye numerous officers, it is simply on account of these things that I have removed you and settled you here in the west; it was not that I, the One man, considered it a part of my virtue to interfere with your tranquillity. The thing was from Heaven; do not offer resistance; I shall not presume to have any subsequent (charge concerning you); do not murmur against me. |
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惟尔知，惟殷先人有册有典，殷革夏命。今尔又曰：‘夏迪简在王庭，有服在百僚。’予一人惟听用德，肆予敢求尔于天邑商，予惟率肆矜尔。非予罪，时惟天命。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
'Ye know that your fathers of the Yin dynasty had their archives and statutes, (showing how) Yin superseded the appointment of Xia. Now, indeed, ye say further, '(The officers of) Xia were chosen and employed in the royal court (of Shang), and had their duties among the mass of its officers.' (But) I, the One man, listen only to the virtuous, and employ them; and it was with this view that I ventured to seek you in your capital of Shang (once sanctioned by) Heaven, (and removed you here to Luo.) I thereby follow (the ancient example), and have pity on you. (Your present non-employment) is no fault of mine - it is by the decree of Heaven." |
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王曰：“多士，昔朕来自奄，予大降尔四国民命。我乃明致天罚，移尔遐逖，比事臣我宗多逊。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
'The king says, "Ye numerous officers, formerly, when I came from Yan, I greatly mitigated the penalty and spared the lives of the people of your four states. At the same time I made evident the punishment appointed by Heaven, and removed you to this distant abode, that you might be near the ministers who had served in our honoured (capital), and (learn) their much obedience." |
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王曰：“告尔殷多士，今予惟不尔杀，予惟时命有申。今朕作大邑于兹洛，予惟四方罔攸宾，亦惟尔多士攸服奔走臣我多逊。尔乃尚有尔土，尔用尚宁干止，尔克敬，天惟畀矜尔；尔不克敬，尔不啻不有尔土，予亦致天之罚于尔躬！今尔惟时宅尔邑，继尔居；尔厥有干有年于兹洛。尔小子乃兴，从尔迁。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
'The king says, "I declare to you, ye numerous officers of Yin, now I have not put you to death, and therefore I reiterate the declaration of my charge. I have now built this great city here in Luo, considering that there was no (central) place in which to receive my guests from the four quarters, and also that you, ye numerous officers, might here with zealous activity perform the part of ministers to us, with the entire obedience (ye would learn). Ye have still here, I may say, your grounds, and May still rest in your duties and dwellings. If you can reverently obey, Heaven will favour and compassionate you. If you do not reverently obey, you shall not only not have your lands, but I will also carry to the utmost Heaven's inflictions on your persons. Now you may here dwell in your villages, and perpetuate your families; you may pursue your occupations and enjoy your years in this Luo; your children also will prosper; (all) from your being removed here." |
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王曰：“又曰时予，乃或言尔攸居。” |
| Numerous Officers: |
The king says: 'And again he says, "Whatever I may now have spoken is on account of (my anxiety about) your residence here."' |
