人主之过，在已任臣矣，又必反与其所不任者备之，此其说必与其所任者为仇，而主反制于其所不任者。The fault of the ruler lies in that after entrusting power to ministers, he must then turn around and take precautions against them with those he has not entrusted power to. What these people say will surely make enemies of those in power, and the ruler will instead be controlled by those he has not entrusted power to.
今所与备人者，且曩之所备也。人主不能明法而以制大臣之威，无道得小人之信矣。Now, those with whom the ruler takes precautions against others were once the very people he took precautions against. The ruler cannot clarify the laws to control the power of the ministers, and thus has no way to win the trust of the petty officials.
人主释法而以臣备臣，则相爱者比周而相誉，相憎者朋党而相非。非誉交争，则主惑乱矣。When the ruler abandons the law and uses one minister to guard against another, those who like each other will collude and praise one another, while those who dislike each other will form cliques and slander one another. When slander and praise contend, the ruler will be confused.
人臣者，非名誉请谒无以进取，非背法专制无以为威，非假于忠信无以不禁，三者，愍主坏法之资也。For ministers, without reputation, solicitation, and intercession, they have no way to advance; without violating the law and exercising autocratic power, they have no way to establish their authority; without feigning loyalty and faithfulness, they have no way to act without restraint. These three are the means for crafty rulers to undermine the law.
人主使人臣虽有智能，不得背法而专制；The ruler should ensure that even if ministers have intelligence and ability, they cannot violate the law and exercise autocratic power;
虽有贤行，不得逾功而先劳，虽有忠信，不得释法而不禁：此之谓明法。even if they have virtuous conduct, they cannot overstate their achievements and claim rewards ahead of others; even if they are loyal and trustworthy, they cannot abandon the law and act without restraint. This is called clarifying the law.
人主有诱于事者，有壅于言者，二者不可不察也。The ruler may be lured by matters and be obstructed by words. These two situations must be clearly understood.
人臣易言事者，少索资，以事诬主。主诱而不察，因而多之，则是臣反以事制主也。Ministers who easily talk about matters demand few resources and deceive the ruler with the matter. If the ruler is lured and fails to examine, and thus praises them, then the ministers will instead control the ruler with the matter.
如是者谓之诱，诱于事者困于患。If this is the case, it is called being lured. Those lured by matters will be trapped in troubles.
共进言少，其退费多，虽有功，其进言不信。When they jointly offer advice, they ask for little at first, but the cost of the matter turns out to be high. Even if there is some achievement, their words are not trustworthy.
不信者有罪，事有功者必赏，则群臣莫敢饰言以愍主。Those whose words are not trustworthy are guilty. If those who achieve success in matters must be rewarded, then the ministers will not dare to embellish their words to deceive the ruler.
主道者，使人臣前言不复于后，复言不复于前，事虽有功，必伏其罪，谓之任下。The way of the ruler is to make sure that if a minister's previous words do not match his later actions, or his repeated words do not match his previous ones, even if the matter is successful, he must still bear the blame. This is called governing subordinates.
人臣为主设事而恐其非也，则先出说设言曰："议是事者，妒事者也。"When a minister plans a matter for the ruler and fears that it will be disapproved, he will first put forward a statement, saying, "Those who oppose this matter are jealous of it."
人主藏是言，不更听群臣；群臣畏是言，不敢议事。The ruler keeps this statement in mind and no longer listens to the other ministers. The ministers fear this statement and dare not discuss the matter.
二势者用，则忠臣不听而誉臣独任。如是者谓之壅于言，壅于言者制于臣矣。When these two power-using methods are employed, the loyal ministers will not be listened to, and only the flattering ministers will be trusted. If this is the case, it is called being obstructed by words. Those obstructed by words will be controlled by the ministers.
主道者，使人臣必有言之责，又有不言之责。The way of the ruler is to make ministers bear the responsibility for speaking and also bear the responsibility for not speaking.
言无端末辩无所验者，此言之责也；以不言避责持重位者，此不言之责也。If a minister's words have no beginning or end and cannot be verified, this is the responsibility for speaking. If a minister avoids responsibility by not speaking and holds an important position, this is the responsibility for not speaking.
人主使人臣言者必知其端以责其实，不言者必问其取舍以为之责。The ruler should make sure that for those who speak, he must know the origin of their words to demand their substance, and for those who do not speak, he must ask about their choices and hold them accountable.
则人臣莫敢妄言矣，又不敢默然矣，言、默则皆有责也。Then the ministers will not dare to speak nonsense, nor will they dare to remain silent. Whether they speak or remain silent, they will both be held accountable.
