Profoundly wise were [the lords of] Shang ，
And long had there appeared the omens [of their dignity ].
When the waters of the deluge spread vast abroad ，
Yu arranged and divided the regions of the land ，
And assigned to the exterior great States their boundaries ，
With their borders extending all over [the kingdom] .
Then the State of Song began to be great ，
And God raised up the son [of its daughter] ， and founded [the Family of] Shang .
The dark king exercised an effective sway .
Charged with a small State ， he commanded success ；
Charged with a large State ， he commanded success .
He followed his rules of conduct without error ；
Wherever he inspected [the people] ， they responded [to his instructions] .
[Then came] Xiang-tu ， all-ardent ，
And all [within] the seas ， beyond [the middle region] ， acknowledged his restra ints .
The favour of God did not leave [Shang] ，
And in Tang was found the subject for its display .
Tang was not born too late ，
And his wisdom and virtue daily advanced .
Brilliant was the influence of his character [on Heaven] for long ，
And God appointed him to be model to the nine regions .
He received the rank-tokens [of the States] ， small and large ，
Which depended on him ， like the pendants of a banner ； ——
So did he receive the blessing of Heaven .
He was neither violent nor remiss ，
Neither hard nor soft .
Gently he spread his instructions abroad ，
And all dignities and riches were concentrated in him .
He received the tribute [of the States] ， large and small ，
And he supported them as a strong steed [does its burden] ； ——
So did he receive the favour of Heaven .
He displayed everywhere his valour ，
Unshaken ， unmoved ，
Unterrified ， unscared ： ——
All dignities were united in him .
The martial king displayed his banner ，
And with reverence grasped his axe .
It was like [the case of] a blazing fire ，
Which no one can repress .
The root ， with its three shoots ，
Could make no progress ， no growth .
The nine regions were effectually secured by him .
Having smitten [the princes of] Wei and Gu ，
He dealt with [the prince of] Kun-wu ， and with Jie of Xia .
Formerly in the middle of the period [before Tang] ，
There was a time of shaking and peril ，
But truly did Heaven [then] deal with him as its son ，
And sent him down a minister ，
Namely A-heng ，
Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
浚哲維商、長(zhǎng)發(fā)其祥。
洪水芒芒、禹敷下土方、外大國(guó)是疆。
幅隕既長(zhǎng)、有娀方將、帝立子生商。
玄王桓撥、受小國(guó)是達(dá)、受大國(guó)是達(dá)。
率履不越、遂視既發(fā)。
相土烈烈、海外有截。
帝命不違、至于湯齊。
湯降不遲、圣敬日躋。
昭假遲遲、上帝是祗、帝命式于九圍。
受小球大球、為下國(guó)綴旒。
何天之休、不競(jìng)不絿、不剛不柔、敷政優(yōu)優(yōu)、百祿是遒。
受小共大共、為下國(guó)駿厖。
何天之龍、敷奏其勇、不震不動(dòng)、不戁不竦、百祿是總。
武王載旆、有虔秉鉞。
如火烈烈、則莫我敢曷。
苞有三蘗、莫遂莫達(dá)、九有有截。
韋顧既伐、昆吾夏桀。
昔在中葉、有震且業(yè)。
允也天子、降于鄉(xiāng)士、實(shí)維阿衡、實(shí)左右商王。
And long had there appeared the omens [of their dignity ].
When the waters of the deluge spread vast abroad ，
Yu arranged and divided the regions of the land ，
And assigned to the exterior great States their boundaries ，
With their borders extending all over [the kingdom] .
Then the State of Song began to be great ，
And God raised up the son [of its daughter] ， and founded [the Family of] Shang .
The dark king exercised an effective sway .
Charged with a small State ， he commanded success ；
Charged with a large State ， he commanded success .
He followed his rules of conduct without error ；
Wherever he inspected [the people] ， they responded [to his instructions] .
[Then came] Xiang-tu ， all-ardent ，
And all [within] the seas ， beyond [the middle region] ， acknowledged his restra ints .
The favour of God did not leave [Shang] ，
And in Tang was found the subject for its display .
Tang was not born too late ，
And his wisdom and virtue daily advanced .
Brilliant was the influence of his character [on Heaven] for long ，
And God appointed him to be model to the nine regions .
He received the rank-tokens [of the States] ， small and large ，
Which depended on him ， like the pendants of a banner ； ——
So did he receive the blessing of Heaven .
He was neither violent nor remiss ，
Neither hard nor soft .
Gently he spread his instructions abroad ，
And all dignities and riches were concentrated in him .
He received the tribute [of the States] ， large and small ，
And he supported them as a strong steed [does its burden] ； ——
So did he receive the favour of Heaven .
He displayed everywhere his valour ，
Unshaken ， unmoved ，
Unterrified ， unscared ： ——
All dignities were united in him .
The martial king displayed his banner ，
And with reverence grasped his axe .
It was like [the case of] a blazing fire ，
Which no one can repress .
The root ， with its three shoots ，
Could make no progress ， no growth .
The nine regions were effectually secured by him .
Having smitten [the princes of] Wei and Gu ，
He dealt with [the prince of] Kun-wu ， and with Jie of Xia .
Formerly in the middle of the period [before Tang] ，
There was a time of shaking and peril ，
But truly did Heaven [then] deal with him as its son ，
And sent him down a minister ，
Namely A-heng ，
Who gave his assistance to the king of Shang .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
浚哲維商、長(zhǎng)發(fā)其祥。
洪水芒芒、禹敷下土方、外大國(guó)是疆。
幅隕既長(zhǎng)、有娀方將、帝立子生商。
玄王桓撥、受小國(guó)是達(dá)、受大國(guó)是達(dá)。
率履不越、遂視既發(fā)。
相土烈烈、海外有截。
帝命不違、至于湯齊。
湯降不遲、圣敬日躋。
昭假遲遲、上帝是祗、帝命式于九圍。
受小球大球、為下國(guó)綴旒。
何天之休、不競(jìng)不絿、不剛不柔、敷政優(yōu)優(yōu)、百祿是遒。
受小共大共、為下國(guó)駿厖。
何天之龍、敷奏其勇、不震不動(dòng)、不戁不竦、百祿是總。
武王載旆、有虔秉鉞。
如火烈烈、則莫我敢曷。
苞有三蘗、莫遂莫達(dá)、九有有截。
韋顧既伐、昆吾夏桀。
昔在中葉、有震且業(yè)。
允也天子、降于鄉(xiāng)士、實(shí)維阿衡、實(shí)左右商王。