于穆清庙，肃雝显相。 济济多士，秉文之德。 对越在天，骏奔走在庙。 不显不承，无射于人斯。
Oh! solemn is the ancestral temple in its pure stillness. Reverent and harmonious were the distinguished assistants; Great was the number of the officers:— (All) assiduous followers of the virtue of (king Wăn). In response to him in heaven, Grandly they hurried about in the temple. Distinguished is he and honoured, And will never be wearied of among men.
维天之命，于穆不已。 于乎不显，文王之德之纯。 假以溢我，我其收之。 骏惠我文王，曾孙笃之。
The ordinances of Heaven,— How deep are they and unintermitting! And oh! how illustrious Was the singleness of the virtue of king Wăn! How does he (now) show his kindness? We will receive it, Striving to be in accord with him, our king Wăn; And may his remotest descendant be abundantly the same!
烈文辟公，锡兹祉福。惠我无疆，子孙保之。 无封靡于尔邦，维王其崇之。念兹戎功，继序其皇之。 无竞维人，四方其训之。不显维德，百辟其刑之。 于乎前王不忘。
Ye, brilliant and accomplished princes, Have conferred on me this happiness. Your favours to me are without limit, And my descendants will preserve (the fruits of) them. Be not mercenary nor extravagant in your states, And the king will honour you. Thinking of this great service, He will enlarge the dignity of your successors. What is most powerful is the being the man:— Its influence will be felt throughout your states. What is most distinguished is the being virtuous:— It will secure the imitation of all the princes. Ah! the former kings cannot be forgotten!
天作高山，大王荒之。 彼作矣，文王康之。 彼徂矣，岐有夷之行。 子孙保之。
Heaven made the lofty hill, And king Thâi brought (the country about) it under cultivation. He made the commencement with it, And king Wăn tranquilly (carried on the work), (Till) that rugged (mount) Khî Had level roads leading to it. May their descendants ever preserve it!
昊天有成命，二后受之。 成王不敢康，夙夜基命宥密。 于缉熙！单厥心。肆其靖之。
Heaven made its determinate appointment, Which our two sovereigns received. King Khăng did not dare to rest idly in it, But night and day enlarged its foundations by his deep and silent virtue. How did he continue and glorify (his heritage), Exerting all his heart, And so securing its tranquillity!
我将我享，维羊维牛，维天其右之。 仪式刑文王之典，日靖四方。 伊嘏文王，既右飨之。 我其夙夜，畏天之威，于时保之。
I have brought my offerings, A ram and a bull. May Heaven accept them! I imitate and follow and observe the statutes of king Wăn, Seeking daily to secure the tranquillity of the kingdom. King Wăn, the Blesser, has descended on the right, and accepted (the offerings). Do I not, night and day, Revere the majesty of Heaven, Thus to preserve (its favour)?
时迈其邦，昊天其子之。 实右序有周，薄言震之，莫不震叠。 怀柔百神，及河乔岳。允王维后。 明昭有周，式序在位。 载戢干戈，载櫜弓矢。 我求懿德，肆于时夏。 允王保之。
Now is he making a progress through his states; May Heaven deal with him as its son! Truly are the honour and succession come from it to the House of Kâu. To his movements All respond with tremulous awe. He has attracted and given rest to all spiritual beings, Even to (the spirits of) the Ho and the highest hills. Truly is the king our sovereign lord. Brilliant and illustrious is the House of Kâu. He has regulated the positions of the princes; He has called in shields and spears; He has returned to their cases bows and arrows. I will cultivate admirable virtue, And display it throughout these great regions. Truly will the king preserve the appointment.
执竞武王，无竞维烈，不显成康，上帝是皇。自彼成康，奄有四方。 斤斤其明！钟鼓喤喤，磬筦将将，降福穰穰，降福简简，威仪反反。 既醉既饱，福禄来反。
The arm of king Wû was full of strength; Irresistible was his ardour. Greatly illustrious were Khăng and Khang, Kinged by God. When we consider how Khăng and Khang Grandly held all within the four quarters (of the kingdom), How penetrating was their intelligence! The bells and drums sound in harmony; The sounding-stones and flutes blend their notes; Abundant blessing is sent down. Blessing is sent down in large measure. Careful and exact is all our deportment; We have drunk, and we have eaten, to the full; Our happiness and dignity will be prolonged.