De Jing — Matthew L. Tyler Reading
English line-by-line reading by Matthew L. Tyler, with original Chinese text on the right for comparison.
Chinese clauses are preserved in source order and grouped against the English reading where the line divisions do not map one-to-one.
第1章第38章
Chapter 38
1
Highest virtue does not make a show of virtue; therefore it has virtue.
上德不德，是以有德；
2
Lower virtue never lets go of virtue; therefore it has no virtue.
下德不失德，是以無德。
3
Highest virtue acts without contrivance and without motive.
上德無為而無以為；下德為之而有以為。
4
Lower virtue acts, and has a motive for acting.
上仁為之而無以為；上義為之而有以為。
5
Highest benevolence acts, yet without motive.
上禮為之而莫之應，則攘臂而扔之。
6
Highest righteousness acts, and has a motive for acting.
故失道而後德，失德而後仁，
7
Highest ritual acts, and when no one responds, it bares its arms and pulls them along.
失仁而後義，
8
Thus, when the Way is lost, there is virtue; when virtue is lost, there is benevolence; when benevolence is lost, there is righteousness; when righteousness is lost, there is ritual.
失義而後禮。夫禮者，
9
Ritual is the thinning of loyalty and trust, and the beginning of disorder.
忠信之薄，而亂之首。
10
Foreknowledge is the flower of the Way, and the beginning of folly.
前識者，道之華，
11
Therefore the great person dwells in the thick, not in the thin.
而愚之始。是以大丈夫處其厚，
12
Dwells in the real, not in the flower.
不居其薄；處其實，
13
Therefore he leaves that and takes this.
不居其華。故去彼取此。
第2章第39章
Chapter 39
1
Those of old who attained the One:
昔之得一者：天得一以清；
2
Heaven attained the One and became clear.
地得一以寧；
3
Earth attained the One and became still.
神得一以靈；谷得一以盈；
4
Spirit attained the One and became numinous.
萬物得一以生；
5
The valley attained the One and became full.
侯王得一以為天下貞。其致之，
6
The ten thousand things attained the One and were born.
天無以清，
7
Lords and kings attained the One and became upright under heaven.
將恐裂；地無以寧，
8
Carried to the limit: if heaven were not clear, it would fear splitting.
將恐發；
9
If earth were not still, it would fear erupting.
神無以靈，將恐歇；
10
If spirit were not numinous, it would fear exhaustion.
谷無以盈，
11
If the valley were not full, it would fear depletion.
將恐竭；萬物無以生，
12
If the ten thousand things were not born, they would fear extinction.
將恐滅；
13
If lords and kings were not noble and high, they would fear collapse.
侯王無以貴高將恐蹶。故貴以賤為本，
14
Therefore the noble takes the lowly as its root; the high takes the low as its foundation.
高以下為基。
15
For this reason lords and kings call themselves orphaned, solitary, and unworthy.
是以侯王自稱孤、寡、
16
Is this not taking the lowly as the root?
不穀。
17
Is it not?
此非以賤為本耶？非乎？
18
Thus, seeking many praises brings no praise.
故致數譽無譽。
19
Do not wish to glitter like jade; be rough and solid like stone.
不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。
第3章第40章
Chapter 40
1
Reversal is the movement of the Way.
反者道之動；
2
Weakness is the use of the Way.
弱者道之用。天下萬物生於有，
3
All things under heaven are born from being; being is born from nonbeing.
有生於無。
第4章第41章
Chapter 41
1
When the highest kind of scholar hears the Way, he practices it diligently.
上士聞道，
2
When the middle kind of scholar hears the Way, it seems present and seems absent.
勤而行之；
3
When the lowest kind of scholar hears the Way, he laughs loudly at it.
中士聞道，若存若亡；
4
If it were not laughed at, it would not be enough to be the Way.
下士聞道，
5
Thus established sayings have it:
大笑之。
6
The bright Way seems dim.
不笑不足以為道。
7
Advancing in the Way seems like retreat.
故建言有之：
8
The level Way seems uneven.
明道若昧；進道若退；
9
Highest virtue seems like a valley.
夷道若纇；
10
Great whiteness seems stained.
上德若谷；
11
Broad virtue seems insufficient.
太白若辱；
12
Established virtue seems slack.
廣德若不足；建德若偷；
13
Plain truth seems changeable.
質真若渝；
14
The great square has no corners.
大方無隅；
15
The great vessel is completed late.
大器晚成；
16
The great sound is rarely heard.
大音希聲；
17
The great image has no form.
大象無形；道隱無名。
18
The Way is hidden and nameless.
夫唯道，
19
Only the Way is good at lending and completing.
善貸且成。
第5章第42章
Chapter 42
1
The Way gives birth to one.
道生一，一生二，
2
One gives birth to two.
二生三，
3
Two gives birth to three.
三生萬物。萬物負陰而抱陽，
4
Three gives birth to the ten thousand things.
沖氣以為和。人之所惡，
5
The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang; through blending breath they make harmony.
唯孤、
6
What people dislike are “orphaned,” “solitary,” and “unworthy,” yet kings and lords use these as their titles.
寡、不穀，
7
Thus things may be diminished and yet increased, or increased and yet diminished.
而王公以為稱。故物或損之而益，
8
What others teach, I also teach:
或益之而損。人之所教，
9
The violent and overbearing do not die their natural death.
我亦教之。
10
I will take this as the father of my teaching.
強梁者不得其死，吾將以為教父。
第6章第43章
Chapter 43
1
The softest thing under heaven gallops through the hardest thing under heaven.
天下之至柔，馳騁天下之至堅。
2
What has no being enters where there is no gap.
無有入無間，吾是以知無為之有益。
3
By this I know the benefit of nonaction.
不言之教，
4
The teaching without words, the benefit of nonaction: few under heaven reach it.
無為之益，天下希及之。
第7章第44章
Chapter 44
1
Name or body: which is nearer?
名與身孰親？
2
Body or possessions: which is more?
身與貨孰多？
3
Gain or loss: which is the greater illness?
得與亡孰病？
4
Therefore excessive love must bring great cost.
是故甚愛必大費；多藏必厚亡。
5
Much storing up must bring heavy loss.
知足不辱，
6
Know contentment and you will not be disgraced; know when to stop and you will not be endangered.
知止不殆，
7
Thus you can last long.
可以長久。
第8章第45章
Chapter 45
1
Great completion seems incomplete, yet its use is not worn out.
大成若缺，
2
Great fullness seems empty, yet its use is inexhaustible.
其用不弊。大盈若沖，
3
Great straightness seems bent.
其用不窮。
4
Great skill seems clumsy.
大直若屈，
5
Great eloquence seems hesitant.
大巧若拙，
6
Restlessness overcomes cold; stillness overcomes heat.
大辯若訥。躁勝寒靜勝熱。
7
Clear stillness is the right order under heaven.
清靜為天下正。
第9章第46章
Chapter 46
1
When the world has the Way, racing horses are retired to fertilize the fields.
天下有道，卻走馬以糞。
2
When the world lacks the Way, war-horses are bred in the suburbs.
天下無道，
3
No disaster is greater than not knowing contentment.
戎馬生於郊。禍莫大於不知足；
4
No fault is greater than desire for gain.
咎莫大於欲得。
5
Therefore the contentment of knowing contentment is lasting contentment.
故知足之足，常足矣。
第10章第47章
Chapter 47
1
Without going out the door, one knows the world.
不出戶知天下；不闚牖見天道。
2
Without peering through the window, one sees the Way of heaven.
其出彌遠，其知彌少。
3
The farther one goes out, the less one knows.
是以聖人不行而知，
4
Therefore the sage knows without traveling, names without seeing, and completes without acting.
不見而名，不為而成。
第11章第48章
Chapter 48
1
In pursuing learning, one increases daily.
為學日益，
2
In pursuing the Way, one decreases daily.
為道日損。損之又損，
3
Decrease and decrease again, until one reaches nonaction.
以至於無為。
4
Through nonaction, nothing is left undone.
無為而無不為。
5
To take the world, always use noninterference.
取天下常以無事，及其有事，
6
When one has business and schemes, one is not enough to take the world.
不足以取天下。
第12章第49章
Chapter 49
1
The sage has no constant mind; he takes the minds of the people as his mind.
聖人無常心，以百姓心為心。
2
To the good, I am good.
善者，吾善之；
3
To the not-good, I am also good.
不善者，吾亦善之；
4
This is the goodness of virtue.
德善。信者，
5
To the trustworthy, I am trustworthy.
吾信之；不信者，
6
To the untrustworthy, I am also trustworthy.
吾亦信之；德信。
7
This is the trust of virtue.
聖人在天下，歙歙為天下渾其心，
8
The sage in the world gathers all into one heart; the people all fix their eyes and ears on him, and the sage treats them all as children.
百姓皆注其耳目，聖人皆孩之。
第13章第50章
Chapter 50
1
Going out is life; entering is death.
出生入死。生之徒，
2
Followers of life are three in ten.
十有三；死之徒，
3
Followers of death are three in ten.
十有三；人之生，
4
People who live but move toward the place of death are also three in ten.
動之死地，十有三。
5
Why is this?
夫何故？以其生，
6
Because they thicken life too much.
生之厚。
7
I have heard that one who is good at preserving life travels on land and does not meet rhinoceros or tiger, enters an army and is not struck by weapons.
蓋聞善攝生者，陸行不遇兕虎，
8
The rhinoceros has nowhere to thrust its horn; the tiger has nowhere to place its claws; the weapon has nowhere to admit its blade.
入軍不被甲兵；兕無所投其角，
9
Why is this?
虎無所措其爪，兵無所容其刃。
10
Because he has no place of death.
夫何故？以其無死地。
第14章第51章
Chapter 51
1
The Way gives them birth; virtue nourishes them.
道生之，德畜之，
2
Matter gives them form; circumstance completes them.
物形之，勢成之。
3
Therefore the ten thousand things all honor the Way and value virtue.
是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。道之尊，
4
The honor of the Way and the value of virtue are not commanded; they are always naturally so.
德之貴，夫莫之命常自然。
5
Thus the Way gives them birth and virtue nourishes them.
故道生之，德畜之；長之育之；
6
It grows them, raises them, settles them, matures them, feeds them, and shelters them.
亭之毒之；養之覆之。
7
It gives birth but does not possess; acts but does not rely on it; leads but does not rule.
生而不有，為而不恃，
8
This is called mysterious virtue.
長而不宰，是謂玄德。
第15章第52章
Chapter 52
1
The world has a beginning; it is the mother of the world.
天下有始，以為天下母。既得其母，
2
Having found the mother, one knows the children.
以知其子，既知其子，
3
Having known the children, return to guard the mother, and to the end of the body there is no danger.
復守其母，沒身不殆。塞其兌，
4
Block the openings, close the doors, and to the end of life there is no toil.
閉其門，終身不勤。開其兌，
5
Open the openings and multiply affairs, and to the end of life there is no rescue.
濟其事，終身不救。見小曰明，
6
Seeing the small is called clarity; guarding softness is called strength.
守柔曰強。用其光，
7
Use its light, return again to its clarity, and leave no calamity for the body; this is practicing constancy.
復歸其明，無遺身殃；是為習常。
第16章第53章
Chapter 53
1
If I had even the smallest knowledge, I would walk on the great Way and fear only straying.
使我介然有知，行於大道，
2
The great Way is very level, yet the people love bypaths.
唯施是畏。大道甚夷，而民好徑。
3
The court is swept clean, while the fields are overgrown and the granaries empty.
朝甚除，田甚蕪，
4
They wear patterned silks, carry sharp swords, gorge on food and drink, and have wealth in excess.
倉甚虛；服文綵，
5
This is called robbery and boasting.
帶利劍，厭飲食，財貨有餘；
6
It is not the Way.
是謂盜夸。非道也哉！
第17章第54章
Chapter 54
1
What is well planted is not uprooted.
善建不拔，善抱者不脫，
2
What is well embraced does not slip away.
子孫以祭祀不輟。修之於身，
3
Descendants will offer sacrifices without interruption.
其德乃真；修之於家，
4
Cultivate it in the body, and its virtue is true.
其德乃餘；修之於鄉，
5
Cultivate it in the family, and its virtue is abundant.
其德乃長；修之於國，
6
Cultivate it in the village, and its virtue grows.
其德乃豐；修之於天下，
7
Cultivate it in the state, and its virtue is rich.
其德乃普。故以身觀身，
8
Cultivate it under heaven, and its virtue is universal.
以家觀家，以鄉觀鄉，
9
Therefore observe body by body, family by family, village by village, state by state, and the world by the world.
以國觀國，以天下觀天下。
10
How do I know the world is so? By this.
吾何以知天下然哉？以此。
第18章第55章
Chapter 55
1
One who contains virtue in thickness is like a newborn child.
含德之厚，比於赤子。
2
Wasps, scorpions, snakes, and vipers do not sting him; fierce beasts do not seize him; birds of prey do not strike him.
蜂蠆虺蛇不螫，猛獸不據，
3
His bones are weak and his sinews soft, yet his grip is firm.
攫鳥不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。
4
He does not yet know the joining of male and female, yet his potency is whole; this is the utmost of essence.
未知牝牡之合而全作，精之至也。
5
He cries all day and does not become hoarse; this is the utmost of harmony.
終日號而不嗄，和之至也。知和曰常，
6
Knowing harmony is called constancy; knowing constancy is called clarity.
知常曰明，益生曰祥。
7
Increasing life is called auspicious excess; the heart forcing the breath is called strength.
心使氣曰強。物壯則老，
8
When things are strong, they grow old; this is called contrary to the Way, and what is contrary to the Way ends early.
謂之不道，不道早已。
第19章第56章
Chapter 56
1
Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know.
知者不言，言者不知。塞其兑，
2
Block the openings, close the doors, blunt the sharpness, untangle the knots.
閉其門，挫其銳，
3
Soften the light, become one with the dust.
解其分，和其光，同其塵，
4
This is called mysterious sameness.
是謂玄同。故不可得而親，不可得而踈；
5
Therefore it cannot be obtained by closeness or distance, by benefit or harm, by honor or lowliness.
不可得而利，不可得而害；
6
Therefore it is honored under heaven.
不可得而貴，不可得而賤。故為天下貴。
第20章第57章
Chapter 57
1
Govern the state with uprightness.
以正治國，以奇用兵，
2
Use surprise in warfare.
以無事取天下。吾何以知其然哉？
3
Take the world through noninterference.
以此：天下多忌諱，
4
How do I know this is so? By this:
而民彌貧；
5
The more prohibitions under heaven, the poorer the people become.
民多利器，國家滋昏；
6
The more sharp tools the people have, the more confused the state becomes.
人多伎巧，奇物滋起；
7
The more clever skills people have, the more strange things arise.
法令滋彰，盜賊多有。
8
The more laws and commands are displayed, the more thieves and bandits there are.
故聖人云：我無為，
9
Therefore the sage says: I practice nonaction, and the people transform themselves.
而民自化；
10
I love stillness, and the people correct themselves.
我好靜，而民自正；
11
I have no affairs, and the people enrich themselves.
我無事，而民自富；
12
I have no desires, and the people become simple of themselves.
我無欲，而民自樸。
第21章第58章
Chapter 58
1
When government is dull and restrained, the people are simple and honest.
其政悶悶，其民淳淳；
2
When government is sharp and searching, the people are deficient and divided.
其政察察，其民缺缺。
3
Misfortune is where fortune leans; fortune is where misfortune hides.
禍兮福之所倚，福兮禍之所伏。
4
Who knows their limit?
孰知其極？其無正。
5
There is no fixed correctness.
正復為奇，善復為妖。
6
Correctness returns to become strangeness; goodness returns to become the uncanny.
人之迷，其日固久。
7
The confusion of people has indeed lasted a long time.
是以聖人方而不割，廉而不劌，
8
Therefore the sage is square but does not cut, sharp but does not wound, straight but does not indulge, bright but does not dazzle.
直而不肆，光而不燿。
第22章第59章
Chapter 59
1
In governing people and serving heaven, nothing is like frugality.
治人事天莫若嗇。夫唯嗇，
2
Only frugality is called early submission.
是謂早服；
3
Early submission is called heavy accumulation of virtue.
早服謂之重積德；
4
With heavy accumulation of virtue, nothing cannot be overcome.
重積德則無不克；無不克則莫知其極；
5
When nothing cannot be overcome, no one knows the limit.
莫知其極，可以有國；
6
When no one knows the limit, one can possess the state.
有國之母，
7
Possessing the mother of the state, one can endure long.
可以長久；
8
This is called deep roots and a firm base, the Way of long life and lasting vision.
是謂深根固柢，長生久視之道。
第23章第60章
Chapter 60
1
Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish.
治大國若烹小鮮。以道蒞天下，
2
When one approaches the world with the Way, its spirits are not uncanny.
其鬼不神；非其鬼不神，
3
It is not that its spirits are not uncanny; their uncanniness does not harm people.
其神不傷人；
4
It is not only that their spirits do not harm people; the sage also does not harm people.
非其神不傷人，聖人亦不傷人。
5
When the two do not harm each other, virtue returns and gathers there.
夫兩不相傷，故德交歸焉。
第24章第61章
Chapter 61
1
A great state is the lower stream.
大國者下流，天下之交，
2
It is the meeting place of the world, the female of the world.
天下之牝。牝常以靜勝牡，
3
The female always overcomes the male by stillness; through stillness she takes the lower place.
以靜為下。故大國以下小國，
4
Therefore, if a great state lowers itself before a small state, it takes the small state.
則取小國；小國以下大國，
5
If a small state lowers itself before a great state, it is taken by the great state.
則取大國。
6
Thus some lower themselves in order to take, and some lower themselves and are taken.
故或下以取，或下而取。
7
The great state wants no more than to gather and nourish people; the small state wants no more than to enter and serve people.
大國不過欲兼畜人，小國不過欲入事人。
8
When both obtain what they want, the greater should be below.
夫兩者各得其所欲，大者宜為下。
第25章第62章
Chapter 62
1
The Way is the hidden storehouse of the ten thousand things.
道者萬物之奧。善人之寶，
2
It is the treasure of good people and the protection of people who are not good.
不善人之所保。美言可以市，
3
Beautiful words can buy honor; honored conduct can add to a person.
尊行可以加人。人之不善，
4
As for people who are not good, why abandon them?
何棄之有？故立天子，
5
Therefore, when the Son of Heaven is enthroned and the three ministers are appointed, though one may have jade disks presented before four-horse teams, it is better to sit and advance this Way.
置三公，雖有拱璧以先駟馬，
6
Why did the ancients value this Way?
不如坐進此道。古之所以貴此道者何？
7
Did they not say: those who seek may obtain, and those with guilt may be spared?
不曰：以求得，
8
Therefore it is honored under heaven.
有罪以免耶？故為天下貴。
第26章第63章
Chapter 63
1
Act through nonaction.
為無為，事無事，
2
Manage affairs through noninterference.
味無味。
3
Taste what has no taste.
大小多少，報怨以德。
4
Make the small great and the few many.
圖難於其易，為大於其細；
5
Repay resentment with virtue.
天下難事，
6
Plan the difficult while it is easy; do the great while it is small.
必作於易，天下大事，
7
The difficult affairs under heaven must begin in what is easy; the great affairs under heaven must begin in what is small.
必作於細。是以聖人終不為大，
8
Therefore the sage never acts as great, and so can accomplish greatness.
故能成其大。夫輕諾必寡信，
9
Light promises must have little trust; much ease must have much difficulty.
多易必多難。
10
Therefore the sage treats things as difficult, and so in the end has no difficulty.
是以聖人猶難之，故終無難矣。
第27章第64章
Chapter 64
1
What is at rest is easy to hold.
其安易持，其未兆易謀。
2
What has not yet shown signs is easy to plan for.
其脆易泮，其微易散。
3
What is brittle is easy to dissolve.
為之於未有，治之於未亂。
4
What is minute is easy to scatter.
合抱之木，生於毫末；
5
Act before it exists; govern before there is disorder.
九層之臺，起於累土；
6
A tree that fills the arms grows from a tiny sprout.
千里之行，始於足下。
7
A nine-story terrace rises from heaps of earth.
為者敗之，執者失之。
8
A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath the feet.
是以聖人無為故無敗；無執故無失。
9
Those who contrive it ruin it; those who grasp it lose it.
民之從事，常於幾成而敗之。
10
Therefore the sage does not contrive, and so has no ruin; does not grasp, and so has no loss.
慎終如始，則無敗事，
11
People, in pursuing affairs, often ruin them when they are almost complete.
是以聖人欲不欲，不貴難得之貨；
12
Be careful at the end as at the beginning, and there will be no ruined affairs.
學不學，復衆人之所過，
13
Therefore the sage desires not to desire and does not value goods hard to obtain; learns not to learn and returns to what the masses have passed by, assisting the naturalness of the ten thousand things without daring to interfere.
以輔萬物之自然，而不敢為。
第28章第65章
Chapter 65
1
Those of old who were good at practicing the Way did not use it to enlighten the people, but to keep them simple.
古之善為道者，非以明民，
2
The people are hard to govern because they have much cleverness.
將以愚之。民之難治，以其智多。
3
Therefore to govern a state with cleverness is the thief of the state.
故以智治國，國之賊；
4
Not to govern a state with cleverness is the blessing of the state.
不以智治國，國之福。
5
Knowing these two is also a model.
知此兩者亦𥡴式。常知𥡴式，
6
Always knowing the model is called mysterious virtue.
是謂玄德。玄德深矣，遠矣，
7
Mysterious virtue is deep, far-reaching, and returns with things; only then does it arrive at great accord.
與物反矣，然後乃至大順。
第29章第66章
Chapter 66
1
Rivers and seas can be kings of the hundred valleys because they are good at staying below them; therefore they can be kings of the hundred valleys.
江海所以能為百谷王者，以其善下之，
2
Thus, if the sage wants to be above the people, he must speak as though below them.
故能為百谷王。是以聖人欲上民，
3
If he wants to be before the people, he must place himself behind them.
必以言下之；欲先民，
4
Therefore the sage dwells above, yet the people do not feel burdened; dwells before, yet the people do not feel harmed.
必以身後之。是以聖人處上而民不重，
5
Therefore all under heaven gladly support him and do not tire of him.
處前而民不害。是以天下樂推而不厭。
6
Because he does not contend, no one under heaven can contend with him.
以其不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。
第30章第67章
Chapter 67
1
Everyone under heaven says my Way is great, yet seems unlike anything.
天下皆謂我道大，似不肖。
2
Precisely because it is great, it seems unlike anything.
夫唯大，
3
If it resembled something, it would long ago have become small.
故似不肖。若肖久矣。
4
I have three treasures, which I hold and protect.
其細也夫！我有三寶，
5
The first is compassion.
持而保之。
6
The second is frugality.
一曰慈，二曰儉，
7
The third is not daring to be first under heaven.
三曰不敢為天下先。慈故能勇；
8
Because of compassion, one can be brave.
儉故能廣；
9
Because of frugality, one can be broad.
不敢為天下先，故能成器長。
10
Because of not daring to be first under heaven, one can become chief of all vessels.
今舍慈且勇；
11
Now, to abandon compassion and yet be brave, to abandon frugality and yet be broad, to abandon being behind and yet put oneself first: this is death.
舍儉且廣；舍後且先；
12
With compassion in battle, one wins.
死矣！夫慈以戰則勝，
13
With compassion in defense, one is firm.
以守則固。
14
When heaven is about to save someone, it protects him with compassion.
天將救之，以慈衛之。
第31章第68章
Chapter 68
1
One good at being a warrior is not martial.
善為士者，不武；
2
One good at fighting is not angry.
善戰者，不怒；
3
One good at defeating an enemy does not engage him.
善勝敵者，不與；善用人者，
4
One good at using people places himself below them.
為之下。是謂不爭之德，
5
This is called the virtue of not contending; this is called the strength of using people; this is called matching heaven, the ancient utmost.
是謂用人之力，是謂配天古之極。
第32章第69章
Chapter 69
1
In using troops there is a saying:
用兵有言：吾不敢為主，
2
I do not dare act as host, but act as guest.
而為客；不敢進寸，
3
I do not dare advance an inch, but retreat a foot.
而退尺。是謂行無行；
4
This is called marching without marching, baring arms without arms, throwing down without an enemy, holding weapons without weapons.
攘無臂；
5
No disaster is greater than taking the enemy lightly.
扔無敵；執無兵。
6
Taking the enemy lightly nearly loses my treasure.
禍莫大於輕敵，輕敵幾喪吾寶。
7
Therefore, when opposing armies meet, the one who grieves wins.
故抗兵相加，哀者勝矣。
第33章第70章
Chapter 70
1
My words are very easy to know and very easy to practice.
吾言甚易知，甚易行。
2
Yet no one under heaven can know them, and no one can practice them.
天下莫能知，莫能行。
3
Words have an ancestor; affairs have a ruler.
言有宗，事有君。
4
It is precisely because people do not know this that they do not know me.
夫唯無知，
5
Those who know me are few; those who follow me are honored.
是以不我知。知我者希，
6
Therefore the sage wears coarse cloth and holds jade within.
則我者貴。是以聖人被褐懷玉。
第34章第71章
Chapter 71
1
To know that one does not know is highest.
知不知上；不知知病。
2
Not to know, yet think one knows, is sickness.
夫唯病病，是以不病。
3
Only by being sick of sickness is one not sick.
聖人不病，
4
The sage is not sick because he is sick of sickness; therefore he is not sick.
以其病病，是以不病。
第35章第72章
Chapter 72
1
When the people do not fear awe, great awe arrives.
民不畏威，
2
Do not crowd their dwelling places.
則大威至。無狎其所居，
3
Do not weary them in their lives.
無厭其所生。
4
Only because you do not weary them are they not weary of you.
夫唯不厭，
5
Therefore the sage knows himself but does not display himself.
是以不厭。
6
He loves himself but does not exalt himself.
是以聖人自知不自見；自愛不自貴。
7
Therefore he leaves that and takes this.
故去彼取此。
第36章第73章
Chapter 73
1
Bravery in daring leads to killing.
勇於敢則殺，勇於不敢則活。
2
Bravery in not daring leads to life.
此兩者，或利或害。
3
Of these two, one may benefit and one may harm.
天之所惡，孰知其故？
4
What heaven hates, who knows the reason?
是以聖人猶難之。天之道，
5
Therefore even the sage finds it difficult.
不爭而善勝，不言而善應，
6
The Way of heaven does not contend and yet is good at winning; does not speak and yet is good at answering; is not summoned and yet comes of itself; is spacious and yet good at planning.
不召而自來，繟然而善謀。
7
Heaven's net is vast and wide; sparse, yet it loses nothing.
天網恢恢，踈而不失。
第37章第74章
Chapter 74
1
If the people do not fear death, how can death be used to frighten them?
民不畏死，奈何以死懼之？
2
If the people were always made to fear death, and those who acted strangely could be seized and killed, who would dare?
若使民常畏死，而為奇者，
3
There is always an executioner who kills.
吾得執而殺之，孰敢？常有司殺者殺。
4
To kill in place of the executioner is like chopping in place of the master carpenter.
夫司殺者，是大匠斲；
5
Those who chop in place of the master carpenter rarely avoid injuring their own hands.
夫代大匠斲者，希有不傷其手矣。
第38章第75章
Chapter 75
1
The people are hungry because those above eat too much in taxes; therefore they are hungry.
民之飢，以其上食稅之多，是以飢。
2
The people are hard to govern because those above are too active; therefore they are hard to govern.
民之難治，以其上之有為，是以難治。
3
The people take death lightly because they seek life too thickly; therefore they take death lightly.
民之輕死，以其求生之厚，
4
Only those who do not act for the sake of life are wiser than those who value life.
是以輕死。夫唯無以生為者，是賢於貴生。
第39章第76章
Chapter 76
1
When people are alive, they are soft and weak; when they die, they are stiff and strong.
人之生也柔弱，其死也堅強。
2
When grasses and trees are alive, they are soft and tender; when they die, they are dry and withered.
萬物草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。
3
Therefore the stiff and strong are followers of death; the soft and weak are followers of life.
故堅強者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。
4
Thus a strong army does not win; a strong tree is cut down.
是以兵強則不勝，木強則共。
5
The strong and great occupy the lower place; the soft and weak occupy the higher place.
強大處下，柔弱處上。
第40章第77章
Chapter 77
1
The Way of heaven is like drawing a bow.
天之道，其猶張弓與？
2
What is high is pressed down; what is low is raised up.
高者抑之，下者舉之；有餘者損之，
3
What has excess is diminished; what is insufficient is supplemented.
不足者補之。天之道，
4
The Way of heaven diminishes excess and supplements insufficiency.
損有餘而補不足。人之道，
5
The way of people is not so: it diminishes insufficiency to offer to excess.
則不然，損不足以奉有餘。
6
Who can have excess and offer it to the world? Only one who has the Way.
孰能有餘以奉天下，唯有道者。是以聖人為而不恃，
7
Therefore the sage acts without relying on it, completes the work without dwelling on it, and does not wish to display worthiness.
功成而不處，其不欲見賢。
第41章第78章
Chapter 78
1
Nothing under heaven is softer and weaker than water.
天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝，
2
Yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing can surpass it; nothing can replace it.
其無以易之。弱之勝強，
3
The weak overcomes the strong; the soft overcomes the hard.
柔之勝剛，天下莫不知，
4
No one under heaven fails to know this, yet no one can practice it.
莫能行。是以聖人云：受國之垢，
5
Therefore the sage says: One who receives the state's filth is called lord of the soil and grain; one who receives the state's misfortune is called king under heaven.
是謂社稷主；受國不祥，
6
Straight words seem reversed.
是謂天下王。正言若反。
第42章第79章
Chapter 79
1
When a great resentment is reconciled, some resentment must remain.
和大怨，必有餘怨；
2
How can this be considered good?
安可以為善？是以聖人執左契，
3
Therefore the sage holds the left-hand tally and does not demand payment from others.
而不責於人。
4
One with virtue attends to the tally; one without virtue attends to collection.
有德司契，無德司徹。
5
The Way of heaven has no favorites; it is always with the good person.
天道無親，常與善人。
第43章第80章
Chapter 80
1
Let the state be small and the people few.
小國寡民。使有什伯之器而不用；
2
Though there are tools tenfold and hundredfold, let them not be used.
使民重死而不遠徙。雖有舟輿，
3
Let the people value death and not migrate far.
無所乘之，
4
Though there are boats and carriages, there is nowhere to ride them.
雖有甲兵，無所陳之。
5
Though there are armor and weapons, there is nowhere to display them.
使民復結繩而用之，甘其食，
6
Let the people return to knotting cords and using them.
美其服，安其居，
7
Let them find their food sweet, their clothing beautiful, their homes peaceful, and their customs joyful.
樂其俗。
8
Neighboring states can see one another; the sounds of roosters and dogs can be heard across the border.
鄰國相望，雞犬之聲相聞，
9
Yet the people grow old and die without visiting one another.
民至老死，不相往來。
第44章第81章
Chapter 81
1
Trustworthy words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustworthy.
信言不美，美言不信。
2
The good do not argue; those who argue are not good.
善者不辯，
3
Those who know are not broadly learned; the broadly learned do not know.
辯者不善。知者不博，
4
The sage does not accumulate.
博者不知。
5
Having used what he has for others, he has still more himself.
聖人不積，既以為人己愈有，
6
Having given what he has to others, he has still more himself.
既以與人己愈多。天之道，
7
The Way of heaven benefits and does not harm.
利而不害；
8
The Way of the sage acts and does not contend.
聖人之道，為而不爭。