20.1 尧曰：“咨！尔舜！天之历数在尔躬1，允执其中2。四海困穷，天禄永终。” 舜亦以命禹。 曰：“予小子履敢用玄牡3，敢昭告于皇皇后帝4：有罪不敢赦。帝臣不蔽，简在帝心5。朕躬有罪6，无以万方。万方有罪，罪在朕躬。” 周有大赉7，善人是富。“虽有周亲8，不如仁人。百姓有过，在予一人。” 谨权量9，审法度10，修废官，四方之政行焉。兴灭国，继绝世，举逸民，天下之民归心焉。 所重：民、食、丧、祭。 宽则得众，信则民任焉11，敏则有功，公则说。
【译文】
尧说：“唉！舜啊！上天所定的帝王列位已经落到你身上了，要忠实地执行正确原则。如果四海百姓陷入穷困之中，上天赐你的禄位也就永远终结了。” 舜也以同样的话告诫禹。 商汤说：“我小子履谨用黑色公牛作祭品，明白地禀告庄严伟大的天帝：对于有罪的人我不敢擅自赦免。对于天帝臣仆的善恶，我也不会欺瞒掩盖，天帝心中自是明察一切。我若有罪，不要牵累天下万方。天下万方若有罪，则归我一人承担。” 周朝广封诸侯，使善人都富贵起来。“我虽有至亲，但不如有仁人。如果百姓有过失，由我一人承担。” 谨慎检验并审定度量衡，修复废弃不全的官职，四方的政令就通行了。复兴灭亡的国家，再续受封者断绝的后代，举用遗逸的人才，天下的百姓都会诚心归附了。 所重视的是：百姓、粮食、丧礼、祭祀。 宽厚就得民心，诚信就得人任用，勤敏就会有功绩，公平就会使百姓高兴。
【YZG解释】
尧说：“唉！舜啊！上天所定的帝王列位已经落到你身上了，要忠实地执守中道啊。如果天下百姓陷入穷困之中，上天赐你的禄位也就永远完结了。” 舜也以同样的话告诫禹。 商汤说：“我小子履谨用黑色公牛作祭品，禀告庄严伟大的天帝：夏桀有罪，我不敢擅自赦免，我要讨伐他。对于天下贤臣，我也不会遮蔽，必会人尽其才，这些都一一在您的心中简阅，赏罚皆顺从天意。我若有罪，甘愿受罚，不要怪罪天下百姓。天下百姓若有罪，归我一人承担其责，不要惩罚百姓。” 周朝广封诸侯，使善人都富贵起来。“我虽有至亲，但不如自己修习仁德。如果百姓有过失，由我一人承担。” 周武王谨慎检验制定度量衡，建立礼乐及法律制度，修复废弃不全的官职，全国的政令就可以通行了。复兴灭亡的国家，安置前朝遗族，举用隐逸的人才，天下的百姓都会诚心归附了。 所重视的是：百姓、粮食、丧礼、祭祀。 宽厚就得百姓拥戴，诚信就得到百姓信任，勤敏就会有功绩，公平就会使百姓悦服。
【English Translation】
Yao said: “Alas! Shun1! The throne ordained by Heaven has now fallen upon you. You should adhere to the middle way faithfully. If the civilians in the world fall into poverty, the position bestowed by Heaven will come to an end forever.” Shun also admonished Yu with the same words.
Shang Tang2 said: “I, as a young man, with name Lu, reverently use a black bull as a sacrifice and report to the majestic and great Heavenly Emperor: Xia Jie is guilty, I dare not grant an amnesty to him without authorization. I will attack him. For the virtuous officials in the world, I will not neglect them, and I will surely make the best use of everyone’s talents. All of these are reviewed in Your heart, and the rewards and punishments all follow Heaven‘s will. If I am guilty, I am willing to be punished, and do not blame the civilians in the world. If the civilians in the world are guilty, I will take the responsibility alone and please do not punish the civilians.”
In the Zhou Dynasty, vassals were widely conferred to make the kind persons wealthy. “Although I have close relatives, it is not as good as cultivating virtue by myself. If the civilians make mistakes, I will take the responsibility alone.”
King Wu of Zhou carefully inspected and established standards of measurement, established Rites, Music, and legal systems, and restored incomplete official positions. In this way, the government orders of the whole State could be implemented. In addition, he also revived the perished States, settled the descendants of the previous dynasties, and employed the reclusive talents, so all the civilians in the world will sincerely submit to his authority.
The things which are emphasized: the civilians, grain, mourning rituals, and sacrificial ceremony.
Generosity will win the support of the civilians, honesty will gain the trust of the civilians, diligence will lead to achievements, and fairness will make the civilians pleased and convinced.
【English Translation】