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The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little ease may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
To secure the repose of the four quarters of it .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the unconscientious careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
Who have no fear of the clear will [of Heaven] .
Then let us show kindness to those who are distant ,
And help those who are near ;—
Thus establishing [the throne of] our king .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little rest may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
And make it a gathering-place for the people .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the noisy braggarts careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ;—
So the people shall not have such sorrow .
Do not cast away your [former] service ,
But secure the quiet of the king .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little relief may be got for them .
Let us cherish this capital ,
To secure the repose of the States in the four quarters .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
To make careful those who set no limit to themselves ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ;—
Not allowing them to act out their evil .
Then let us be reverently careful of our demeanour ,
To cultivate association with the virtuous .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little repose may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
That the sorrow of the people may be dispelled .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the multitudes of the evil careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
So that the right shall not be over thrown .
Though you may be [but as] little children ,
Your work is vast and great .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little tranquillity may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
That it may not everywhere suffer such wounds .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the parasites careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
So that the right shall not be reversed .
The king wishes to hold you as [sceptres of] jade ,
And therefore I thus strongly admonish you .