子曰：「舜其大孝也与！德为圣人，尊为天子，富有四海之内。宗庙飨之，子孙保之。
The Master said, "How greatly filial was Shun! His virtue was that of a sage; his dignity was the throne; his riches were all within the four seas. He offered his sacrifices in his ancestral temple, and his descendants preserved the sacrifices to himself.
故大德必得其位，必得其禄，必得其名，必得其寿。
Therefore having such great virtue, it could not but be that he should obtain the throne, that he should obtain those riches, that he should obtain his fame, that he should attain to his long life.
故天之生物，必因其材而笃焉。故栽者培之，倾者覆之，
Thus it is that Heaven, in the production of things, is sure to be bountiful to them, according to their qualities. Hence the tree that is flourishing, it nourishes, while that which is ready to fall, it overthrows.
诗曰：『嘉乐君子，宪宪令德！宜民宜人；受禄于天；保佑命之，自天申之！』
In the Book of Poetry, it is said, 'The admirable amiable prince displayed conspicuously his excelling virtue, adjusting his people, and adjusting his officers. Therefore, he received from Heaven his emoluments of dignity. It protected him, assisted him, decreed him the throne; sending from Heaven these favors, as it were repeatedly.'
故大德者必受命。」
We may say therefore that he who is greatly virtuous will be sure to receive the appointment of Heaven."