宋(song)文公(gong)(gong)(gong)，子(zi)姓，宋(song)氏，名鮑(bao)（一作鮑(bao)革），亦稱公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)鮑(bao)或公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)鮑(bao)革，宋(song)成公(gong)(gong)(gong)之子(zi)，宋(song)昭公(gong)(gong)(gong)的弟(di)弟(di)。
公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)為(wei)人(ren)(ren)賢明(ming)，對國(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)以禮(li)相待，當時宋國(guo)(guo)發生饑荒，公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)把糧食全部拿出來施舍(she)。對年紀(ji)在七(qi)十(shi)歲以上的，沒有(you)不(bu)(bu)送東西(xi)的，還按時令加送珍貴食品。沒有(you)一天不(bu)(bu)進出六卿的大門。對國(guo)(guo)內有(you)才能(neng)的人(ren)(ren)，沒有(you)不(bu)(bu)加事奉的；對親屬中從宋桓公(gong)以下的子(zi)(zi)孫，沒有(you)不(bu)(bu)加周(zhou)濟(ji)的。公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)長(chang)得(de)漂亮而且艷(yan)麗，公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)祖(zu)父宋襄公(gong)的夫人(ren)(ren)（周(zhou)襄王之姐(jie)）想和(he)他私通，公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)不(bu)(bu)肯，襄公(gong)夫人(ren)(ren)就幫助他在國(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)中廣施恩惠。宋昭(zhao)公(gong)無道(dao)，宋國(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)都不(bu)(bu)親附宋昭(zhao)公(gong)，宋國(guo)(guo)人(ren)(ren)由于襄公(gong)夫人(ren)(ren)的關(guan)系而擁護公(gong)子(zi)(zi)鮑(bao)(bao)。
宋(song)昭(zhao)公(gong)九年（公(gong)元(yuan)前611年），當時，華元(yuan)擔(dan)任右師(shi)，公(gong)子(zi)友擔(dan)任左師(shi)，華耦擔(dan)任司(si)(si)馬、鱗(lin)鱹(guan)擔(dan)任司(si)(si)徒，蕩(dang)意諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)擔(dan)任司(si)(si)城，公(gong)子(zi)朝擔(dan)任司(si)(si)寇。當初，司(si)(si)城蕩(dang)去(qu)世，公(gong)子(zi)壽辭掉司(si)(si)城的(de)官職，請求讓(rang)蕩(dang)意諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)擔(dan)任。后(hou)來告訴別人說(shuo)(shuo)：“國(guo)君(jun)(jun)無道，我的(de)官位接近國(guo)君(jun)(jun)，很(hen)怕禍(huo)患引到身上。如果丟掉官職不干，家(jia)族就無所(suo)庇護。兒(er)子(zi)，是(shi)我的(de)代表，姑且讓(rang)我晚點死去(qu)。這樣(yang)，雖(sui)然喪失兒(er)子(zi)，還不致于喪失家(jia)族。”不久以(yi)(yi)后(hou)，襄(xiang)公(gong)夫人準(zhun)備讓(rang)宋(song)昭(zhao)公(gong)在(zai)孟諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)（今河(he)南(nan)商丘(qiu)東北）打獵而(er)乘機殺(sha)死他(ta)。宋(song)昭(zhao)公(gong)得知后(hou)，帶上全部(bu)珍寶(bao)(bao)出行。蕩(dang)意諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)說(shuo)(shuo)：“何不到諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)侯那里去(qu)？”宋(song)昭(zhao)公(gong)說(shuo)(shuo)：“得不到自(zi)己的(de)大夫甚至君(jun)(jun)祖母以(yi)(yi)及人們(men)的(de)信任，諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)侯誰肯接納(na)我？而(er)且已(yi)經做(zuo)了別人的(de)君(jun)(jun)主(zhu)，再做(zuo)別人的(de)臣下，不如死了好。”魯昭(zhao)公(gong)把(ba)他(ta)的(de)珍寶(bao)(bao)全部(bu)賜(si)給左右隨行人員，而(er)讓(rang)他(ta)們(men)離(li)去(qu)。襄(xiang)公(gong)夫人派人告訴蕩(dang)意諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)離(li)開宋(song)昭(zhao)公(gong)，蕩(dang)意諸(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)回答(da)說(shuo)(shuo)：“做(zuo)他(ta)的(de)臣下，而(er)又逃避(bi)他(ta)的(de)禍(huo)難，怎么能事奉以(yi)(yi)后(hou)的(de)國(guo)君(jun)(jun)呢(ni)？”
宋(song)昭公九年（公元前611年）十一(yi)月二(er)十二(er)日，宋(song)昭公準備去孟諸打獵，沒(mei)有(you)到達，襄公夫人派遣帥甸（《史記》作衛伯）進攻并(bing)殺死宋(song)昭公，于是公子鮑繼位(wei)，是為宋(song)文(wen)公。
宋(song)文公元年(nian)(nian)（公元前(qian)610年(nian)(nian)）春天，晉(jin)國荀林父、衛國孔達、陳國公孫寧、鄭國石(shi)楚聯軍攻打宋(song)國，譴責宋(song)國人殺害宋(song)昭(zhao)公。得知宋(song)文公繼位的(de)消息后(hou)，便承認宋(song)文公繼位的(de)合法性，于(yu)是(shi)撤兵離去。
宋(song)(song)(song)文(wen)(wen)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)二(er)年（公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元前(qian)609年），宋(song)(song)(song)武公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)穆(mu)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)戴公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)莊(zhuang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)桓(huan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)族人(ren)(ren)(ren)帶領宋(song)(song)(song)昭公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)子(zi)(zi)，準備擁(yong)奉(feng)宋(song)(song)(song)文(wen)(wen)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)同母(mu)弟司城公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)須(xu)來(lai)發動叛亂，同年十二(er)月，宋(song)(song)(song)文(wen)(wen)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)殺死公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)須(xu)和宋(song)(song)(song)昭公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)子(zi)(zi)，讓(rang)宋(song)(song)(song)戴公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)莊(zhuang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)桓(huan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)族人(ren)(ren)(ren)在(zai)司馬子(zi)(zi)伯的(de)(de)(de)賓館(guan)里攻打宋(song)(song)(song)武公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)族人(ren)(ren)(ren)，于是就(jiu)把宋(song)(song)(song)武公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、宋(song)(song)(song)穆(mu)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)族人(ren)(ren)(ren)驅逐出境，派遣公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)孫師擔任(ren)(ren)司城。公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)朝(chao)去(qu)世，宋(song)(song)(song)文(wen)(wen)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)派樂呂擔任(ren)(ren)司寇，來(lai)安(an)定國內(nei)的(de)(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)(ren)心(xin)。
宋文公四(si)年（公元(yuan)前606年）春天，鄭(zheng)國(guo)公子歸(gui)生接受楚國(guo)命(ming)令攻打宋國(guo)。宋文公派華元(yuan)、樂呂帶(dai)兵(bing)抵御。二月初十(shi)日，雙方在(zai)大棘(ji)開戰(zhan)(zhan)，宋軍(jun)(jun)大敗(bai)。鄭(zheng)軍(jun)(jun)俘虜(lu)華元(yuan)，得到樂呂的尸首，繳獲戰(zhan)(zhan)車四(si)百六十(shi)輛，俘虜(lu)二百五十(shi)人，割(ge)下一百名宋軍(jun)(jun)陣(zhen)亡士兵(bing)的耳朵(duo)。
華元準備與(yu)鄭軍(jun)(jun)開戰(zhan)時，殺羊犒(kao)賞士兵，他(ta)的(de)車夫羊斟沒有(you)吃到羊肉羹汁，所以(yi)怨恨華元。等(deng)到兩軍(jun)(jun)交戰(zhan)，羊斟說(shuo)：“前天的(de)羊，是(shi)你作(zuo)主；今天的(de)打仗，是(shi)我作(zuo)主。”就(jiu)驅車沖(chong)進(jin)鄭軍(jun)(jun)軍(jun)(jun)中，因此宋軍(jun)(jun)戰(zhan)敗，鄭軍(jun)(jun)得以(yi)活捉華元。
宋文(wen)公(gong)用一百輛戰車、四百匹(pi)毛色漂亮(liang)的(de)良(liang)馬(ma)，從鄭國(guo)贖回華元(yuan)(yuan)。戰車和良(liang)馬(ma)還(huan)沒全部送(song)到(dao)鄭國(guo)，華元(yuan)(yuan)就自己逃回了宋國(guo)。
宋文(wen)公五年（公元前605年），宋武(wu)公、宋穆(mu)公的(de)族(zu)人用曹(cao)國的(de)軍隊攻(gong)打宋國。同年秋天，宋文(wen)公派(pai)軍隊包圍曹(cao)國，以(yi)報(bao)復(fu)宋武(wu)公等族(zu)人的(de)叛亂。
宋文(wen)公(gong)十一年（公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)600年）冬天，宋文(wen)公(gong)乘(cheng)滕國有喪事之(zhi)機，派兵包圍滕國。
宋(song)文(wen)公(gong)十二年（公(gong)元前(qian)599年），滕國人依靠晉國而不事奉宋(song)國。同年六月，宋(song)文(wen)公(gong)再(zai)度派兵進攻滕國。
宋(song)文公(gong)十五年（公(gong)元前597年）夏天(tian)，楚國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)君楚莊王因宋(song)國(guo)(guo)曾救援蕭(xiao)國(guo)(guo)，于是(shi)派兵進(jin)攻宋(song)國(guo)(guo)。
宋文公十六年（公元(yuan)前596年），楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)使者經過宋國(guo)，宋國(guo)與(yu)楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)有舊仇，便(bian)抓住楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)使者。同年九月，楚(chu)(chu)(chu)莊王圍攻宋國(guo)。
宋(song)文公(gong)(gong)十七年（公(gong)(gong)元前595年），因楚軍包圍宋(song)國(guo)(guo)五個月不(bu)解圍，宋(song)國(guo)(guo)都城(cheng)中沒有(you)糧(liang)食(shi)，岌岌可危，于是(shi)宋(song)文公(gong)(gong)派樂嬰齊到(dao)晉(jin)國(guo)(guo)求救(jiu)。晉(jin)國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)君晉(jin)景公(gong)(gong)本(ben)想救(jiu)援宋(song)國(guo)(guo)，但(dan)采納大臣伯宗的建議，就停止發(fa)兵援救(jiu)宋(song)國(guo)(guo)，只是(shi)派遣解揚到(dao)宋(song)國(guo)(guo)去，讓宋(song)國(guo)(guo)不(bu)要投降楚國(guo)(guo)。
宋文公(gong)(gong)十七年(nian)（公(gong)(gong)元前595年(nian)）五月，楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)準備撤軍，但在申犀、申叔(shu)勸阻下楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)沒(mei)有(you)撤軍，反而采納(na)申叔(shu)的計策，讓人在宋國(guo)建房子(zi)、種田。宋文公(gong)(gong)害怕(pa)，派華元在夜里進(jin)入楚(chu)(chu)軍營(ying)見楚(chu)(chu)將(jiang)子(zi)反，子(zi)反告訴楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)。楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)問：“城中(zhong)情況怎樣？”華元說(shuo)(shuo)：“劈開人骨頭當柴(chai)燒(shao)，互相交換子(zi)女來烹食。”楚(chu)(chu)莊(zhuang)王(wang)說(shuo)(shuo)：“多誠實的話啊！我軍也(ye)只有(you)兩天的軍糧(liang)。”因為華元的誠實，楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)終于罷兵解圍(wei)而去。
宋(song)文公(gong)二十(shi)二年(nian)（公(gong)元前589年(nian)）八月，宋(song)文公(gong)去(qu)世，其子宋(song)共公(gong)繼(ji)位。
巧笑倩兮 
