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I look up to great Heaven, |
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But it shows us no kindness. |
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Very long have we been disquieted, |
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And these great calamities are sent down [upon us]. |
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There is nothing settled in the country; |
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Officers and people are in distress. |
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Through the insects from without and from within, |
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There is no peace or limit [to our misery]. |
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The net of crime is not taken up, |
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And there is no peace nor cure [for our state]. |
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Men had their ground and fields, |
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But you have them [now]. |
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Men had their people and followers, |
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But you have violently taken them from them. |
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Here is one who ought to be held guiltless, |
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But you snare him [in the net of crime]. |
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There is one who ought to be held guilty, |
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But you let him escape [from it]. |
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A wise man builds up the wall [of a city], |
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But a wise woman overthrows it. |
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Admirable may be the wise woman, |
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But she is [no batter than] an owl. |
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A woman with a long tongue, |
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Is [like] a stepping-stone to disorder. |
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[Disorder] does not come down from heaven; -- |
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It is produced by the woman. |
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Those from whom come no lessons, no instruction, |
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Are women and eunuchs. |
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They beat men down, hurtful, deceitful. |
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Their slanders in the beginning may be falsified in the end, |
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But they do not say [that their words were] very wrong; -- |
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[They say], ' What evil was there in them? |
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As if in the three times cent per cent of traffic, |
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A superior man should have any knowledge of it; |
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So a woman who has nothing to do with public affairs, |
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Leaves her silk-worms and weaving. |
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Why is it that Heaven is [thus] reproving [you]? |
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Why is it that the Spirits are not blessing [you]? |
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You neglect your great barbarian [foes], |
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And regard me with hatred. |
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You are reagrdless of the evil omens [that abound], |
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And your demeanour is all-unseemly; |
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[Good] men are going away, |
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And the country is sure to go to ruin. |
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Heaven is letting down its net, |
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And many [are the calamities in it]. |
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[Good] men are going away, |
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And my heart is sorrowful. |
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Heaven is letting down its net, |
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And soon [will all be caught in it ]. |
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Good men are going away. |
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And my heart is sad. |
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Right from the spring comes the water bubbling, |
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Revealing its depth. |
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The sorrow of my heart, -- |
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Is it [only] of to-day? |
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Why were these things not before me? |
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Or why were they not after me? |
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But myteriously Great Heaven, |
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Is able to strengthen anything; |
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Do not disgrace your great ancestors, |
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And it will save your posterity. |