厥初生民，时维姜嫄。生民如何？克禋克祀，以弗无子。 履帝武敏歆，攸介攸止。载震载夙，载生载育。时维后稷。 诞㳽厥月，先生如达。不坼不副，无菑无害。 以赫厥灵，上帝不宁。不康禋祀，居然生子。 诞寘之隘巷，牛羊腓字之。诞寘之平林，会伐平林。 诞寘之寒冰，鸟覆翼之。鸟乃去矣，后稷呱矣。 实覃实𬣙，厥声载路。诞实匍匐，克岐克嶷，以就口食。 蓺之荏菽，荏菽斾斾，禾役穟穟。麻麦幪幪，瓜瓞唪唪。 诞后稷之穑，有相之道。茀厥丰草，种之黄茂。 实方实苞，实种实褎，实发实秀，实坚实好，实颖实栗。即有邰家室。 诞降嘉种，维秬维秠，维穈维芑。 恒之秬秠，是获是亩。恒之穈芑，是任是负。以归肇祀。 诞我祀如何？或舂或揄，或簸或蹂。释之叟叟，烝之浮浮。 载谋载惟，取萧祭脂，取羝以𫐈。载燔载烈，以兴嗣岁。 卬盛于豆，于豆于登。其香始升，上帝居歆。 胡臭亶时？后稷肇祀，庶无罪悔，以迄于今。
The first birth of (our) people Was from Kiang Yüan. How did she give birth to (our) people? She had presented a pure offering and sacrificed, That her childlessness might be taken away. She then trod on a toe-print made by God, and was moved, In the large place where she rested. She became pregnant; she dwelt retired; She gave birth to, and nourished (a son), Who was Hâu-kî. When she had fulfilled her months, Her firstborn son (came forth) like a lamb. There was no bursting, nor rending, No injury, no hurt; Showing how wonderful he would be. Did not God give her the comfort? w Had he not accepted her pure offering and sacrifice, So that thus easily she brought forth her son? He was placed in a narrow lane, But the sheep and oxen protected him with loving care. He was placed in a wide forest, Where he was met with by the wood-cutters. He was placed on the cold ice, And a bird screened and supported him with its wings. When the bird went away, Hâu-kî began to wail. His cry was long and loud, So that his voice filled the whole way. When he was able to crawl, He looked majestic and intelligent. When he was able to feed himself, He fell to planting beans. The beans grew luxuriantly; His rows of paddy shot up beautifully; His hemp and wheat grew strong and close; His gourds yielded abundantly. The husbandry of Hâu-kî Proceeded on the plan of helping (the growth). Having cleared away the thick grass, He sowed the ground with the yellow cereals. He managed the living grain, till it was ready to burst; Then he used it as seed, and it sprang up; It grew and came into ear; It became strong and good; It hung down, every grain complete; And thus he was appointed lord of Thâi. He gave (his people) the beautiful grains;— The black millet and the double-kernelled, The tall red and the white. They planted extensively the black and the double-kernelled, Which were reaped and stacked on the ground. They planted extensively the tall red and the white, Which were carried on their shoulders and backs, Home for the sacrifices which he founded. And how as to our sacrifices (continued from him)? Some hull (the grain); some take it from the mortar; Some sift it; some tread it. It is rattling in the dishes; It is distilled, and the steam floats about. We consult; we observe the rites of purification; We take southernwood and offer it with the fat; We sacrifice a ram to the spirit of the path; We offer roast flesh and broiled:— And thus introduce the coming year. We load the stands with the offerings, The stands both of wood and of earthenware. As soon as the fragrance ascends, God, well pleased, smells the sweet savour. Fragrant it is, and in its due season. Hâu-kî founded our sacrifices, And no one, we presume, has given occasion for blame or regret in regard to them, Down to the present day.