湯誥
湯既黜夏命，復歸于亳，作《湯誥》。 王歸自克夏，至于亳，誕告萬方。王曰：「嗟爾萬方有眾，明聽予一人誥！惟皇上帝，降衷于下民。若有恒性，克綏厥猷惟后，夏王滅德作威，以敷虐于爾萬方百姓，爾萬方百姓罹其兇害，弗忍荼毒。并告無辜于上下神只。天道福善禍淫，降災于夏，以彰厥罪；肆臺小子，將天命明威，不敢赦，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于上天神后，請罪有夏。 「聿求元聖，與之戮力，以與爾有眾請命。上天孚佑下民，罪人黜伏，天命弗僭，賁若草木，兆民允殖。俾予一人，輯寧爾邦家，茲朕未知獲戾于上下。栗栗危懼，若將隕于深淵。凡我造邦，無從匪彝，無即慆淫。各守爾典，以承天休。爾有善，朕弗敢蔽，罪當朕躬，弗敢自赦。惟簡在上帝之心。其爾萬方有罪，在予一人。予一人有罪，無以爾萬方。嗚呼！尚克時忱，乃亦有終。」 咎單作《明居》。 維三月，王自至於東郊。告諸侯群后：「毋不有功於民，勤力乃事。予乃大罰殛女，毋予怨。」曰：「古禹、皋陶久勞於外，其有功乎民，民乃有安。東為江，北為濟，西為河，南為淮，四瀆已修，萬民乃有居。后稷降播，農殖百穀。三公咸有功於民，故后有立。昔蚩尤與其大夫作亂百姓，帝乃弗予，有狀。先王言不可不勉。」曰：「不道，毋之在國，女毋我怨。」
Book III. The Announcement of Thang.
Thang had made an end of the dynasty of Hsiâ, and returned to Po, when he issued this Announcement, which may be considered as a solemn inauguration of the new dynasty. He shows how he had taken possession of the throne in reverent submission to the will of Heaven, what appreciation he had of the duties devolving on him, and the spirit in which he would discharge them. In the end he calls on the princes and the people to sympathize and co-operate with him. When the king returned from vanquishing Hsiâ and came to Po, he made a grand announcement to the myriad regions. The king said, 'Ah! ye multitudes of the myriad regions, listen clearly to the announcement of me, the One man. The great God has conferred (even) on the inferior people a moral sense, compliance with which would show their nature invariably right.* To make them tranquilly pursue the course which it would indicate is the work of the sovereign. 'The king of Hsiâ extinguished his virtue, and played the tyrant, extending his oppression over you, the people of the myriad regions. Suffering from his cruel injuries, and unable to endure the wormwood and poison, you protested with one accord your innocence to the spirits of heaven and earth.* The way of Heaven is to bless the good, and make the bad miserable. It sent down calamities on (the House of) Hsiâ, to make manifest its guilt. Therefore I, the little child, charged with the decree of Heaven and its bright terrors, did not dare to forgive (the criminal). I presumed to use a dark-coloured victim-bull, and, making clear announcement to the Spiritual Sovereign in the high heavens, requested leave to deal with the ruler of Hsiâ as a criminal.* Then I sought for the great Sage, with whom I might unite my strength, to request the favour (of Heaven) for you, my multitudes. High Heaven truly showed its favour to the inferior people, and the criminal has been degraded and subjected. What Heaven appoints is without error;—brilliantly (now), like the blossoming of plants and trees, the millions of the people show a true reviving.'* 'It is given to me, the One man, to secure the harmony and tranquillity of your states and clans; and now I know not whether I may not offend against (the Powers) above and below.* I am fearful and trembling, as if I were in danger of falling into a deep abyss. Throughout all the regions that enter on a new life under me, do not, (ye princes), follow lawless ways; make no approach to insolence and dissoluteness; let every one be careful to keep his statutes;—that so we may receive the favour of Heaven."* The good in you I will not dare to keep concealed; and for the evil in me I will not dare to forgive myself. I will examine these things in harmony with the mind of God.* When guilt is found anywhere in you who occupy the myriad regions, let it rest on me, the One man. When guilt is found in me, the One man, it shall not attach to you who occupy the myriad regions. 'Oh! let us attain to be sincere in these things, and so we shall likewise have a (happy) consummation.'