夫有术者之为人臣也，得效度数之言，上明主法，下困奸臣，以尊主安国者也。When a minister with statecraft serves the ruler, he presents words based on laws and regulations, clarifies the ruler's laws above, and thwarts treacherous ministers below, thereby exalting the ruler and safeguarding the state.
是以度数之言得效于前，则赏罚必用于后矣。Therefore, if words based on laws and regulations prove effective, rewards and punishments will surely be implemented subsequently.
人主诚明于圣人之术，而不苟于世欲之言，循名实而定是非，因参验而审言辞。If the ruler is truly clear-sighted about the sages' statecraft and does not casually accept the words of worldly desires, determines right and wrong by examining names and realities, and assesses words through verification.
是以左右近习之臣，知伪诈之不可以得安也，必曰：Then the attendants and favorites around the ruler will know that deception and falsehood cannot bring safety. They will surely say:
"我不去奸私之行，尽力竭智以事主，而乃以相与比周，妄毁誉以求安，是犹负千钧之重，陷于不测之渊而求生也，必不几矣。""If I do not abandon my treacherous and private deeds, do not exert all my efforts and wisdom to serve the ruler, but instead collude with others, make false slander and praise to seek safety, it is like carrying a thousand-jun weight and falling into an unfathomable abyss while trying to survive. It is surely hopeless."
百官之吏，亦知为奸利之不可以得安也，必曰：The officials of all ranks also know that seeking treacherous benefits cannot bring safety. They will surely say:
"我不以清廉方正奉法，乃以贪污之心枉法以取私利，是犹上高陵之颠堕峻裕谷之下而求生，必不几矣。""If I do not serve the ruler with integrity, abide by the law, but instead use my greedy heart to pervert the law for personal gain, it is like climbing to the top of a high hill and then falling into a steep valley while trying to survive. It is surely hopeless."
安危之道若此其明也，左右安能以虚言惑主，而百官安敢以贪渔下？Since the way of safety and danger is so clear, how can the attendants deceive the ruler with empty words, and how can the officials dare to embezzle from the people?
是以臣得陈其忠而不弊，下得守其职而不怨。此管仲之所以治齐，而商君之所以强秦也。As a result, ministers can present their loyalty without being obstructed, and subordinates can fulfill their duties without resentment. This is how Guan Zhong governed the State of Qi and how Lord Shang strengthened the State of Qin.
从是观之，则圣人之治国也，固有使人不得不爱我之道，而不恃人之以爱为我也。From this perspective, when a sage governs a country, there are ways to make people have to act in the interests of the state (which can be seen as loving the state and thus the ruler in a sense), rather than relying on people's spontaneous love for the ruler.
恃人之以爱为我者危矣，恃吾不可不为者安矣。Relying on people's spontaneous love for the ruler is dangerous, while relying on the fact that people have to act in the interests of the state (by following certain rules) is safe.
夫君臣非有骨肉之亲，正直之道可以得利，则臣尽力以事主；正直之道不可以得安，则臣行私以干上。There is no kinship between the ruler and the ministers. If the path of integrity can bring benefits, ministers will exert all their efforts to serve the ruler. If the path of integrity cannot ensure safety, ministers will act privately to seek the ruler's favor.
明主知之，故设利害之道以示天下而已矣。The wise ruler understands this, so he sets up the way of benefits and harms to show the world.
夫是以人主虽不口教百官，不目索奸邪，而国已治矣。Therefore, even if the ruler does not teach the officials verbally or search for treachery with his own eyes, the country can be well-governed.
人主者，非目若离娄乃为明也，非耳若师旷乃为聪也。The ruler does not need to have eyes as sharp as Li Lou to be considered discerning, nor ears as acute as Shi Kuang to be considered perceptive.
不任其数，而待目以为明，所见都少矣，非不弊之术也。If the ruler does not rely on statecraft but depends on his eyes to see clearly, what he can see is very limited, and this is not a way to avoid being deceived.
不因其势，而待耳以为聪，所闻者寡矣，非不欺之道也。If the ruler does not rely on the situation but depends on his ears to hear clearly, what he can hear is scarce, and this is not a way to prevent deception.
明主者，使天下不得不为己视，天下不得不为己听。A wise ruler makes the world have to see for him and hear for him.
故身在深宫之中而明照四海之内，而天下弗能蔽弗能欺者，何也？暗乱之道废而聪明之势兴也。So, even though he is in the deep palace, he can see clearly throughout the country, and the world cannot deceive or hide things from him. Why? Because the way of darkness and chaos is abolished, and the situation of being discerning and perceptive prevails.
故善任势者国安，不知因其势者国危。Therefore, a country is safe when the ruler is good at using the situation, and a country is in danger when the ruler does not know how to use the situation.
古秦之俗，君臣废法而服私，是以国乱兵弱而主卑。In the past, in the customs of the State of Qin, the ruler and ministers abandoned the law and indulged in private affairs, so the country was in chaos, the army was weak, and the ruler was of low status.
商君说秦孝公以变法易俗而明公道，赏告奸、困末作而利本事。Lord Shang advised Duke Xiao of Qin to change the laws and customs to clarify the public way, reward those who reported treachery, suppress non-essential industries, and promote agriculture.
当此之时，秦民习故俗之有罪可以得免，无功可以得尊显也，故轻犯新法。At that time, the people of Qin were accustomed to the old custom that those who committed crimes could be exempted, and those who had no merits could gain respect and status. So, they easily violated the new laws.
于是犯之者其诛重而必，告之者其赏厚而信，故奸莫不得而被刑者众，民疾怨而众过日闻。Then, those who violated the laws were surely and severely punished, and those who reported treachery were handsomely and faithfully rewarded. So, no treachery could escape, many people were punished, and the people became resentful, with more and more complaints heard every day.
孝公不听，遂行商君之法。Duke Xiao did not listen and continued to implement Lord Shang's laws.
民后知有罪之必诛，而告私奸者众也，故民莫犯，其刑无所加。Later, the people knew that those who committed crimes would surely be punished, and many people reported private treachery. So, the people did not violate the laws, and there was no need to impose punishments.
是以国治而兵强，地广而主尊。此其所以然者，匿罪之罚重，而告奸之赏厚也。As a result, the country was well-governed, the army was strong, the territory was expanded, and the ruler was respected. The reason for this is that the punishment for concealing crimes was severe, and the reward for reporting treachery was generous.
此亦使天下必为己视听之道也。至治之法术已明矣，而世学者弗知也。This is also a way to make the world surely act as the ruler's eyes and ears. The statecraft of the most ideal governance has been made clear, but the scholars of the world do not understand it.
且夫世之愚学，皆不知乱之情，愚诬多诵先古之书，以乱当世之治；Moreover, the foolish scholars in the world do not understand the true situation of chaos. They are ignorant and deceitful, reciting many ancient books to disrupt the governance of the present.
智虑不足以避阱井之陷，又妄非有术之士。Their wisdom and thinking are not enough to avoid falling into traps, and they also wrongly slander those with statecraft.
听其言者危，用其计者乱，此亦愚之至大而患之至甚者也。Those who listen to their words are in danger, and those who use their plans will cause chaos. This is the height of foolishness and the most serious of disasters.
俱与有术之士，有谈说之名，而实相去千万也。此夫名同而实有异者也。These foolish scholars and those with statecraft only share the name of "talkers", but in fact, they are as different as heaven and earth. This is a case of the same name but different realities.
夫世愚学之人比有术之士也，犹蚁垤之比大陵也，其相去远矣。Comparing these foolish scholars in the world with those with statecraft is like comparing an ant-hill with a great mountain. The gap between them is vast.
而圣人者，审于是非之实，察于治乱之情也。A sage discerns the true nature of right and wrong and understands the true situation of order and chaos.
故其治国也，正明法，陈严刑，将以救群生之乱，去天下之祸。So, when governing a country, he enforces laws clearly, sets severe punishments, aiming to save the people from chaos and remove the disasters of the world.
使强不陵弱，众不暴寡，耆老得遂，幼孤得长，边境不侵，群臣相关，父子相保，而无死亡系虏之患，此亦功之至厚者也。He makes the strong not oppress the weak, the many not bully the few, the elderly able to live out their lives, the young and orphans able to grow up, the border not invaded, the ministers support each other, fathers and sons protect each other, and there are no disasters of death, capture, or enslavement. This is the greatest of merits.
愚人不知，顾以为暴。愚者固欲治而恶其所以治，皆恶危而喜其所以危者。Foolish people do not understand this and instead consider it cruel. Fools surely want to govern the country but hate the means of governance. They all hate danger but like the things that lead to danger.
何以知之？夫严刑重罚者，民之所恶也，而国之所以治也；How do we know this? Severe punishments are what the people dislike, but they are the means by which the country is governed.
哀怜百姓轻刑罚者，民之所喜，而国之所以危也。Pitying the common people and lenient punishments are what the people like, but they are the reasons for the country's danger.
圣人为法国者，必逆于世，而顺于道德。When a sage formulates laws for the country, he must go against the common view but conform to the principles of morality.
知之者同于义而异于俗；弗知这者，异于义而同于俗。Those who understand this agree with righteousness and differ from the common customs. Those who do not understand this differ from righteousness and agree with the common customs.
天下知之者少，则义非矣。Since few people in the world understand this, righteousness seems wrong.
