In what does this differ from stabbing a man and killing him and then saying, ‘It is not me, but the weapon that is to blame for it?’ Let Your Majesty not lay the blame on the famine year, and immediately people will come to you from the whole world."

In what does this differ from stabbing a man and killing him, and then saying—"It was not I; it was the weapon?" Let your Majesty cease to lay the blame on the year, and instantly from all the nation the people will come to you.’

what else is it than to stab the man, kill him, and say, "It was not I, but the blade"? Do not blame the year, King; and from everywhere below heaven people will come.

How is this any different from stabbing someone to death and saying It’s not me,it’s the sword? Stop blaming harvests, and people everywhere under Heaven will come flocking to you."

What difference is there between this, and stabbing a man to death, and then saying, it was not I that killed him, it was the weapon. Let not your majesty blame the seasons, and all the people under heaven (or rather of the empire) will come over to you.