鸤鸠在桑，其子在梅。
淑人君子，其带伊丝。
其带伊丝，其弁伊骐。
The cuckoon in the mulberries / Breeds fledglings in mume trees. An ideal ruler should be fair and bright, / His girdle hemmed with silk white. If he’s as bright as silken hems, / He'd be adorned with jade and gems.
鸤鸠在桑，其子在棘。
淑人君子，其仪不忒。
其仪不忒，正是四国。
The cuckoo in the mulberries / Breeds fledglings in the jujube trees. An ideal ruler should be polite. / Whatever he does should be right. If he is right as magistrate, / He'd be a model for the state.
鸤鸠在桑，其子在榛。
淑人君子，正是国人。
正是国人，胡不万年。
The cuckoo in the mulberries / Breeds fledglings in the hazel trees. Ruler should be a good magistrate / To help the people of the state. If he helps people to right the wrong, / May he live ten thousand years long!