Yao said, "Oh! you, Shun, the Heaven-determined order of succession now rests in your person.

尧曰：“咨！尔舜，天之历数在尔躬。

Sincerely hold fast the due Mean. If there shall be distress and want within the four seas,

允执其中。四海困穷，

the Heavenly revenue will come to a perpetual end." Shun also used the same language in giving charge to Yu.

天禄永终。”舜亦以命禹。

T'ang said, "I the child Li, presume to use a dark-colored victim, and presume to announce to Thee,

曰：“予小子履，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于

O most great and sovereign God, that the sinner I dare not pardon,

皇皇后帝：有罪不敢赦，

and thy ministers, O God, I do not keep in obscurity.

帝臣不蔽。

The examination of them is by thy mind, O God. If, in my person, I commit offenses,

简在帝心。朕躬有罪，

they are not to be attributed to you, the people of the myriad regions.

无以万方。

If you in the myriad regions commit offenses, these offenses must rest on my person."

万方有罪，罪在朕躬。”

Chau conferred great gifts, and the good were enriched.

周有大赉，善人是富。

"Although he has his near relatives, they are not equal to my virtuous men.

“虽有周亲，不如仁人。

The people are throwing blame upon me, the One man."

百姓有过，在予一人。”

He carefully attended to the weights and measures, examined the body of the laws,

谨权量，审法度，

restored the discarded officers, and the good government of the kingdom took its course.

修废官，四方之政行焉。