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When all know good as good；
There is not good。
For what is and what is not beget each other；
Difficult and easy complete each other；
Long and short show each other；
High and low place each other：
Noise and sound harmonize each other；
Before and behind follow each other。
Therefore the sage
Manages without doing；
Teaches without talking。
He does not shun the ten thousand things：
Rears them without owning them；
Works for them without claiming them；
Accomplishes but takes no credit。
Because he does no take credit；
It cannot be taken from him。
3
Don't exalt the worthy：
People then will not compete。
Don't prize rare goods：
People then will not steal。
Don't show what is covetable：
The people's hearts won't be upset。
Thus； when the sage rules；
He empties hearts
And fills bellies；
Weakens ambitions
And strengthens bones。
He leads the people
To not…know and not…want；
And the cunning ones dare not do。
By doing nothing…doing； everything is set in order。
4
Tao is empty！ Use it
And it isn't used up。
Deep！ It seems like
The forebear of the ten thousand things。
It blunts edges；
Unties tangles；
Harmonizes lights；
Unites all dust。
Existent and deep！
I don't know whose child it is。
It looks to be the source。
5
Heaven…and…earth is not humane：
It treats the ten thousand things like straw dogs。
The sage is not humane：
He treats the hundred families like straw dogs。
Heaven…and…earth and all between
Is like a bellows：
Empty but never used up。
The more it moves；
The more comes out of it。
Many words exhaust truth。
Keep to the empty center。
6
The spirit of low places does not die。
Call its mysteriousness feminine。
The gate of this mysteriousness
Is the source of heaven…and…earth。
Unceasingly； unceasingly； it seems to persist。
Use it and it won't wear out。
7
Heaven abides； earth lasts。
They last and abide
By not living for themselves。
Hence they live forever。
Therefore the sage
Puts himself last；
Finds himself first；
Abandons his self；
Preserves his self。
Is it not because he has no self
That he is able to realize his self？
8
True goodness is like water；
Water benefits the ten thousand things
But does not compete with them。
It stays in places disliked by man；
Therefore comes close to Tao。
For a dwelling keep to the ground。
In your heart keep to the deeps。
In dealing with others； keep to gentleness。
In speaking； keep to the truth。
In governing； keep to order。
In business； keep to efficiency。
In making moves； keep to the right pace。
If you do not compete；
You will not be faulted。
9
Hold onto fullness？
It's better to stop。
Handle sharp edges？
They can't long be kept。
When gold and jade fill a house；
No one can protect it。
Pride in wealth and fame
Breeds its own collapse。
Do your work； retire：
This is the Tao of heaven。
10
In maintaining the vital spirit；
Can you hold to oneness
And not come apart
In developing the vital senses；
Can you be like an infant child？
In loving the people and ruling the state；
Can you hold to nothing…knowing？
In opening and closing heaven's gate；
Can you act like a mother bird？
While seeing clearly in the four directions；
Can you hold to nothing…doing？
Rear the people；
Feed the people。
Rear them but don't own them。
Work but don't claim；
Lead but don't butcher。
Call this inward virtue。
11
Thirty spokes share one hub；
In emptiness lies the wheel's utility。
Kneading clay makes a pot；
In emptiness lies the pot's utility。
Cutting doors and windows makes a room；
In emptiness lies the room's utility。
Gain can be had from somethingness；
But use can be had from nothingness。
12
The five colors blind the eye。
The five notes deafen the ear。
The five flavors dull the taste。
Racing an hunting madden the heart。
Rare goods make men falter。
Therefore the sage
Tends to the belly not the eye。
He rejects the outward；
Clasps the inward。
13
Favor and disgrace： same fear。
Honor and distress： same self。
What is meant by
〃Favor and disgrace： same fear〃？
Favor make the lowly
Fearful when they get it；
Fearful when they lose it。
That's why favor and disgrace are the same fear。
What is meant by
〃Honor and distress： same self〃？
The self registers our distress：
If we have no self；
We have no distress。
Therefore；
He who values all things as his self
Is fit to manage all things。
He who loves all things as his self
Is fit to be trusted with all things。
14
Look at it； you can't see it：
Call it shapeless。
Listen to it： you can't hear it：
Call it soundless。
Grasp at it； you can't hold it：
Call it bodiless。
These three are beyond scrutiny；
Therefore they blend into one。
Its upped side it not bright；
Its lower side is not dark。
Continually the can't…be…named goes on
And comes back to nothingness。
Call it the formless form；
The imageless image；
The obscure。
From in front； you don't see its head。
From behind； you don't see its back。
But hold onto the Tao of old
And you can handle today's nowness。
Knowing the primal is the key to Tao。
15
The ancient masters were
Inwardly subtle and darkly perceptive。
Their depth was beyond understanding。
Because they were beyond understanding；
They can be described only by appearance：
Hesitant as if wading a river in winter；
Reluctant as if fearing a neighbor；
Reserved as if acting as guest；
Effacing like ice starting to melt；
Simple like uncarved wood；
Open like a valley；
Confused like muddy water。
Who else could clear muddy water
By quieting it？
Who else could move clear water
By bringing it to life？
Whoever keeps to Tao
Does not want to be full。
Not full； he can practice
Concealment instead of accomplishment。
16
Attain utmost emptiness；
Hold firm to stillness。
The ten thousand things stir about；
I only watch for their going back。
Things flourish；
But each returns to its root。
Returning to the root is peace
And peace is going back to reality。
To go back to reality is to be constant。
To know the constant is to find insight；
Not to know the constant is to court calamity。
To know the constant is to be broad。
To be broad is to be just。
To be just is to be manly。
To be manly is to be heavenly。
To be heavenly is to find Tao。
To find Tao is to live forever
And to rob danger from death。
17
Of the best ruler；