书经 The Book of History -- 《太甲下-- Tai Jia III》(James Legge 英译)
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太甲下: 伊尹申诰于王曰：“呜呼！惟天无亲，克敬惟亲。民罔常怀，怀于有仁。鬼神无常享，享于克诚。天位艰哉！德惟治，否德乱。与治同道，罔不兴；与乱同事，罔不亡。终始慎厥与，惟明明后。先王惟时懋敬厥德，克配上帝。今王嗣有令绪，尚监兹哉。
Tai Jia III: Yi Yin again made an announcement to the king, saying, 'Oh! Heaven has no (partial) affection - only to those who are reverent does it show affection. The people are not constant to those whom they cherish; they cherish (only) him who is benevolent. The spirits do not always accept the sacrifices that are offered to them; they accept only the sacrifices of the sincere. A place of difficulty is the Heaven-(conferred) seat. When there are (those) virtues, good government is realized; when they are not, disorder comes. To maintain the same principles as those who secured good government will surely lead to prosperity; to pursue the courses of disorder will surely lead to ruin. He who at last, as at first, is careful as to whom and what he follows is a truly intelligent sovereign. The former king was always zealous in the reverent cultivation of his virtue, so that he was the fellow of God. Now O king, you have entered on the inheritance of his excellent line; fix your inspection on him.'
若升高，必自下，若陟遐，必自迩。无轻民事，惟难；无安厥位，惟危。慎终于始。有言逆于汝心，必求诸道；有言逊于汝志，必求诸非道。呜呼！弗虑胡获？弗为胡成？一人元良，万邦以贞。
'(Your course must be) as when in ascending high you begin from where it is low, and when in travelling far you begin from where it is near. Do not slight the occupations of the people - think of their difficulties. Do not yield to a feeling of repose on your throne - think of its perils. Be careful for the end at the beginning. When you hear words that are distasteful to your mind, you must enquire whether they be not right; when you hear words that accord with your own views, you must enquire whether they be not contrary to what is right. Oh! what attainment can be made without anxious thought? what achievement can be made without earnest effort? Let the One man be greatly good, and the myriad regions will be rectified by him.'
君罔以辩言乱旧政，臣罔以宠利居成功，邦其永孚于休。”
When the sovereign does not with disputatious words throw the old rules of government into confusion, and the minister does not, for favour and gain, continue in an office whose work is done,--then the country will lastingly and surely enjoy happiness.'
