夫刑德者，化之所由興也，德者，養善而進闕者也，刑者，懲惡而禁後者也，故德化之崇者至於賞，刑罰之甚者至於誅。
A true king makes favor paramount and seldom resorts to punishment; an overlord makes equal use of favor and punishment; and an autocratic state places punishment foremost and makes favor secondary.
Punishment and favor, let us note, both arise from the need to transform the ruled.
夫誅賞者，所以別賢不肖而列有功與無功也，故誅賞不可以繆，誅賞繆則善惡亂矣。
The distribution of favors is used to encourage goodness and supply what is missing; the imposition of law is used to punish wickedness and prevent future transgressions.
Thus, government through favor in its most developed form consists of the bestowal of rewards, whereas government through punishment in its most extreme form consists of capital punishment.
夫有功而不賞，則善不勸，有過而不誅，則惡不懼，善不勸，惡不懼，而能以行化乎天下者，未嘗聞也。
Executions and rewards, as is known, are the means used to distinguish the worthy and the unworthy and to make clear the achievement and absence of merit.
Executions and rewards must therefore not be mistakenly applied; it they are mistakenly applied, then goodness and evil will be thrown into confusion. If those who have achieved merit are not rewarded, then ability will not be promoted; and, if offenders are not executed, the wicked will be unafraid.
書曰：「畢力賞罰」，此之謂也。
One who fails to promote ability and allows the wicked to be fearless, and yet is still able to extend his transforming influence throughout the realm has never yet been heard of.
As is said in the Docu ments, “Exert all your strength in bestowing rewards and imposing punishments.