中 庸 Zhongyong – The Doctrine of the Mean

子曰：「舜其大孝也與！德為聖人，尊為天子，富有四海之內。宗廟饗之，子孫保之。

原文 47

The Master said, "How greatly filial was Shun! His virtue was that of a sage; his dignity was the throne; his riches were all within the four seas. He offered his sacrifices in his ancestral temple, and his descendants preserved the sacrifices to himself.

Legge XVII.1.

所以，有最高道德的人，一定得到最高的地位，一定得到最丰富的俸禄，一定得到最美好的名誉，一定得到最长寿命。

白话翻译

故大德必得其位，必得其祿，必得其名，必得其壽。

原文 48

"Therefore having such great virtue, it could not but be that he should obtain the throne, that he should obtain those riches, that he should obtain his fame, that he should attain to his long life.

Legge XVII.2.

因此，上天对万物一定依照他的本质而加以厚重，可以栽培的加以培植，倾危的就推倒。

白话翻译

故天之生物，必因其材而篤焉。故栽者培之，傾者覆之，

原文 49

"Thus it is that Heaven, in the production of things, is sure to be bountiful to them, according to their qualities. Hence the tree that is flourishing, it nourishes, while that which is ready to fall, it overthrows.

Legge XVII.3.

《诗经·大雅·假乐》上说：‘善良而可爱的君子，具有光明磊落的美德，能够安抚百姓，能够任用贤臣，接受上天的福禄，上天保佑他，多多赐以恩泽。’

白话翻译

詩曰：『嘉樂君子，憲憲令德！宜民宜人；受祿于天；保佑命之，自天申之！』

原文 50

"In the Book of Poetry, it is said, 'The admirable, amiable prince displayed conspicuously his excelling virtue, adjusting his people, and adjusting his officers. Therefore, he received from Heaven his emoluments of dignity. It protected him, assisted him, decreed him the throne; sending from Heaven these favors, as it were repeatedly.'

Legge XVII.4.

所以，有最高道德的人，一定受命于上天而为天子。”

白话翻译

故大德者必受命。」

原文 51

"We may say therefore that he who is greatly virtuous will be sure to receive the appointment of Heaven."

Legge XVII.5.

孔子说：“没有什么可忧虑的，那只有周文王吧！父亲是王季，儿子是武王；父亲创造宏基，儿子继承功业。

白话翻译