Zan Yu said, "But at present, Chwan-yu is strong and near to Pi; If our chief do not now take it, it will hereafter be a sorrow to his descendants."
冉有曰：“今夫颛臾固而近于费，今不取，后世必为子孙忧。”
Confucius said. "Ch'iu, the superior man hates those declining to say-'I want such and such a thing,' and framing explanations for their conduct."
孔子曰：“求，君子疾夫舍曰欲之而必为之辞。”
I have heard that rulers of states and chiefs of families are not troubled lest their people should be few,
丘也闻，有国有家者，不患寡，
but are troubled lest they should not keep their several places, that they are not troubled with fears of poverty,
而患不均，不患贫，
but are troubled with fears of a want of contented repose among the people in their several places.
而患不安。
For when the people keep their several places, there will be no poverty, when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity of people,
盖均无贫，和无寡，

and when there is such a contented repose, there will be no rebellious upsettings.
安无倾。夫如是。
"So it is. Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive,
“故远人不服，
all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract them to be so, and when they have been so attracted,
则修文德以来之，
they must be made contented and tranquil."
既来之，则安之。”
Now, here are you, Yu and Ch'iu, assisting your chief, remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him.
今由与求也相夫子，远人不服而不能来也。
In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with your help, he cannot preserve it.
邦分崩离析而不能守也。