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One who excels in tying uses no cords yet what he has tied cannot beundone。
Therefore the sage always excels in saving people； and so abandons noone；
Always excels in saving things； and so abandons nothing。
This is called following one's discernment。
Hence the good man is the teacher the bad learns from；
And the bad man is the material the good works on。
Not to value the teacher
Nor to love the material
Though it seems clever； betrays great bewilderment。
This is called the essential and the secret。
28
Know the male
But keep to the role of the female
And be a ravine to the empire。
If you are a ravine to the empire；
Then the constant virtue will not desert you
And you will again return to being a babe。
Know the white
But keep to the role of the sullied
And be a model to the empire。
If you are a model to the empire；
Then the constant virtue will not be wanting
And you will return to the infinite；
Know honour
But keep to the role of the disgraced
And be a valley to the empire。
If you are a valley to the empire；
Then the constant virtue will be sufficient
And you will return to being the uncarved block。
When the uncarved block shatters it becomes vessels。
The sage makes use of these and becomes the lord over the officials。
Hence the greatest cutting does not sever。
29
Whoever takes the empire and wishes to do anything to it I see willhave no respite。
The empire is a sacred vessel and nothing should be done to it。
Whoever does anything to it will ruin it；
whoever lays hold of it will lose it。
Hence some things lead and some follow；
Some breathe gently and some breathe hard；
Some are strong and some are weak；
Some destroy and some are destroyed。
Therefore the sage avoids excess； extravagance； and arrogance。
30
One who assists the ruler of men by means of the way does not intimidatethe empire by a show of arms。
This is something which is liable to rebound。
Where troops have encamped
There will brambles grow；
In the wake of a mighty army
Bad harvests follow without fail。
One who is good aims only at bringing his campaign to a conclusion anddare not thereby intimidate。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not brag；
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant；
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice；
Bring it to a conclusion but do not intimidate。
A creature in its prime doing harm to the old
Is known as going against the way。
That which goes against the way will come to an early end。
31
It is because arms are instruments of ill omen and there are Thingsthat detest them that the one who has the way does not abide by their use。
The gentleman gives precedence to the left when at home； but to theright when he goes to war。
Arms are instruments of ill omen； not the instruments of the gentleman。
When one is compelled to use them； it is best to do so without relish。
There is no glory in victory； and so to glorify it despite this isto exult in the killing of men。
One who exults in the killing of men will never have his way in theempire。
On occasions of rejoicing precedence is given to the left；
On occasions of mourning precedence is given to the right。
A lieutenants place is on the left；
The general's place is on the right。
This means that it is mourning rites that are observed。
When great numbers of people are killed； one should weep over themwith sorrow。
When victorious in war； one should observe the rites of mourning。
32
The way is for ever nameless。
Though the uncarved block is small
No one in the world dare claim its allegiance。
Should lords and princes be able to hold fast to it
The myriad creatures will submit of their own accord；
Heaven and earth will unite and sweet dew will fall；
And the people will be equitable； though no one so decrees。
Only when it is cut are there names。
As soon as there are names
One ought to know that it is time to stop。
Knowing when to stop one can be free from danger。
The way is to the world as the River and the Sea are to rivulets andstreams。
33
He who knows others is clever；
He who knows himself has discernment。
He who overcomes others has force；
He who overcomes himself is strong。
He who knows contentment is rich；
He who perseveres is a man of purpose；
He who does not lose his station will endure；
He who lives out his days has had a long life。
34
The way is broad； reaching left as well as right。
The myriad creatures depend on it for life yet it claims no authority。
It accomplishes its task yet lays claim to no merit。
It clothes and feeds the myriad creatures yet lays no claim to beingtheir master。
For ever free of desire； it can be called small；
Yet as it lays no claim to being master when the myriad creatures turnto it； it can be called great。
It is because it never attempts itself to become great that it succeedsin becoming great。
35
Have in your hold the great image
And the empire will come to you。
Coming to you and meeting with no harm
It will be safe and sound。
Music and food
Will induce the wayfarer to stop。
The way in its passage through the mouth is without flavor。
It cannot be seen；
It cannot be heard；
Yet it cannot be exhausted by use。
36
If you would have a thing shrink；
You must first stretch it；
If you would have a thing weakened；
You must first strengthen it；
If you would have a thing laid aside；
You must first set it up；
If you would take from a thing；
You must first give to it。
This is called subtle discernment：
The submissive and weak will overcome the hard and strong。
The fish must not be allowed to leave the deep；
The instruments of power in a state must not be revealed to anyone。
37
The way never acts； yet nothing is left undone。
Should lords and princes be able to hold fast to it；
The myriad creatures will be transformed of their own accord。
After they are transformed； should desire raise its head；
I shall press it down with the weight of the nameless uncarved block。
The nameless uncarved block
Is but freedom from desire；
And if I cease to desire and remain still；
The empire will be at peace of its own accord。
38
A man of the highest virtue does not keep to virtue and that is whyhe has virtue。
A man of the lowest virtue never strays from virtue and that is whyhe is without virtue。
The former never acts yet leaves nothing undone。
The latter acts but there are things left undone。
A man of the highest benevolence acts； but from no ulterior motive。
A man of the highest rectitude acts； but from ulterior motive。
A man most conversant in the rites acts； but when no one responds rollsup his sleeves a