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King Wen is on high; |
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Oh! bright is he in heaven. |
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Although Zhou was an old country, |
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The [favouring] appointment lighted on it recently. |
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Illustrious was the House of Zhou, |
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And the appointment of God came at the proper season. |
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King Wen ascends and descends, |
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On the left and the right of God. |
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Full of earnest activity was king Wen, |
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And his fame is without end. |
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The gifts [of God] to Zhou, |
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Extend to the descendants of king Wen; -- |
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To the descendants of king Wen, |
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In the direct line and the collateral branches for a hundred generations. |
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All the officers of Zhou, |
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Shall [also] be illustrious from age to age. |
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They shall be illustrious from age to age, |
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Zealously and reverently pursuing their plans. |
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Admirable are the many officers, |
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Born in this royal kingdom. |
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The royal kingdom is able to produce them, -- |
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The suppporters of [the House of] Zhou. |
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Numerous is the array of officers, |
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And by them king Wen enjoys his repose. |
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Profound was king Wen; |
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Oh! continuous and bright was his feeling of reverence. |
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Great is the appointment of Heaven! |
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There were the descendants of [the sovereigns] of Shang; -- |
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The descendants of the sovereigns of Shang, |
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Were in number more than hundreds of thousands; |
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But when God gave the command, |
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They became subject to Zhou. |
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They became subject to Zhou. |
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The appointment of Heaven is not constant. |
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The officers of Yin, admirable and alert, |
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Assist at the libations in [our] capital; -- |
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They assist at those libations, |
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Always wearing the hatchets on their lower garment and their peculiar cap. |
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O ye loyal ministers of the king, |
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Ever think of your ancestor! |
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Ever think of your ancestor, |
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Cultivating your virtue, |
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Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]. |
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So shall you be seeking for much happiness. |
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Before Yin lost the multitudes, |
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[Its kings] were the assessors fo God. |
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Look to Yin as a beacon; |
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The great appointment is not easily [preserved]. |
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The appointment is not easily [preserved], |
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Do not cause your own extinction. |
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Display and make bright your righteousness and name, |
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And look at [the fate of] Yin in the light of Heaven. |
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The doings of High Heaven, |
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Have neither sound nor smell. |
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Take your pattern from king Wen, |
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And the myriad regions will repose confidence in you. |