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2. 仲虺之誥

成湯放桀于南巢,惟有慚德,曰:「予恐來世以臺為口實。」

仲虺乃作誥,曰:「嗚呼!惟天生民有欲,無主乃亂;惟天生聰明時乂,有夏昏德,民墜涂炭,天乃錫王勇智,表正萬邦,纘禹舊服。茲率厥典,奉若天命。「夏王有罪,矯誣上天,以布命于下;帝用不臧,式商受命,用爽厥師;

簡賢附勢,實繁有徒;肇我邦于有夏,若苗之有莠,若粟之有秕;小大戰戰,罔不懼于非辜,矧予之德言足聽聞;惟王不邇聲色,不殖貨利。德懋懋官,功懋懋賞,用人惟己,改過不吝,克寬克仁,彰信兆民。「乃葛伯仇餉,初征自葛,東征西夷怨,南征北狄怨;曰:『奚獨後予。』攸徂之民,室家相慶,曰:『徯予後,後來其蘇。』民之戴商,厥惟舊哉,

佑賢輔德,顯忠遂良,兼弱攻昧,取亂侮亡,推亡固存,邦乃其昌。德日新,萬邦惟懷;志自滿,九族乃離。「王懋昭大德,建中于民,以義制事,以禮制心,垂裕後昆。予聞曰:『能自得師者王,謂人莫己若者亡。』好問則裕,自用則小。嗚呼!慎厥終,惟其始;殖有禮,覆昏暴。欽崇天道,永保天命。」

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