謂宋君曰；「國家之危定，百姓之治亂，在君之行賞罰也。
When rewards are just, worthy men are encouraged; when punishments are deserved, evildoers are stopped.
賞當則賢人勸，罰得則姦人止，賞罰不當，則賢人不勸，姦人不止，姦邪比周，欺上蔽主，以爭爵祿，不可不慎也。
When rewards and punishments are not fitting, the worthy are not encouraged and evildoers are not stopped.
The wicked will then collude with one another, deceive their superiors, and isolate their rulers so as to pursue rank and stipends—one cannot but be careful about this.