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Therefore； when the sage governs；
He clears peoples minds；
Fills their bellies；
Weakens their ambition and
Strengthens their bones。
If the people are kept without cleverness and desire
It will make the intellectuals not dare to meddle。
Acting without contrivance； there is no lack of manageability。
4
The Tao is so vast that when you use it； something is always left。
How deep it is！
It seems to be the ancestor of the myriad things。
It blunts sharpness
Untangles knots
Softens the glare
Unifies with the mundane。
It is so full！
It seems to have remainder。
It is the child of I…don't…know…who。
And prior to the primeval Lord…on…high。
5
Heaven and Earth are not jen；
And regard the people as straw dogs。
The sage is not jen；
And regards all things as straw dogs。
The space between Heaven and Earth is just like a bellows：
Empty it； it is not exhausted。
Squeeze it and more comes out。
Investigating it with a lot of talk
Is not like holding to the center。
6
The valley spirit never dies。
It is called 〃the mysterious female。〃
The opening of the mysterious female
Is called 〃the root of Heaven and Earth。〃
Continuous； seeming to remain。
Use it without exertion。
7
Heaven and Earth last forever。
The reason that Heaven and Earth are able to last forever
Is because they do not give birth to themselves。
Therefore； they are always alive。
Hence； the sage puts herself last and is first。
She is outside herself and therefore her self lasts。
Is it not through her selflessness
That she is able to perfect herself？
8
The highest goodness is like water。
Water easily benefits all things without struggle。
Yet it abides in places that men hate。
Therefore it is like the Tao。
For dwelling； the Earth is good。
For the mind； depth is good。
The goodness of giving is in the timing。
The goodness of speech is in honesty。
In government； self…mastery is good。
In handling affairs； ability is good。
If you do not wrangle； you will not be blamed。
9
To hold until full is not as good as stopping。
An oversharpened sword cannot last long。
A room filled with gold and jewels cannot be protected。
Boasting of wealth and virtue brings your demise。
After finishing the work； withdraw。
This is the Way of Heaven。
10
Pacifying the agitated material soul and holding to oneness：
Are you able to avoid separation？
Focusing your energy on the release of tension：
Can you be like an infant？
In purifying your insight：
Can you un…obstruct it？
Loving the people and ruling the state：
Can you avoid over…manipulation？
In opening and closing the gate of Heaven：
Can you be the female？
In illuminating the whole universe：
Can you be free of rationality？
Give birth to it and nourish it。
Produce it but don't possess it。
Act without expectation。
Excel； but don't take charge。
This is called Mysterious Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes join together in the hub。
It is because of what is not there that the cart is useful。
Clay is formed into a vessel。
It is because of its emptiness that the vessel is useful。
Cut doors and windows to make a room。
It is because of its emptiness that the room is useful。
Therefore； what is present is used for profit。
But it is in absence that there is usefulness。
12
The five colors blind our eyes。
The five tones deafen our ears。
The five flavors confuse our taste。
Racing and hunting madden our minds。
Possessing rare treasures brings about harmful behavior。
Therefore the sage regards his center； and not his eyes。
He lets go of that and chooses this。
13
Accept humiliation as a surprise。
Value great misfortune as your own self。
What do I mean by 〃Accept humiliation as a surprise〃？
When you are humble
Attainment is a surprise
And so is loss。
That's why I say； 〃Accept humiliation as a surprise。〃
What do I mean by 〃Value great misfortune as your own self〃？
If I have no self； how could I experience misfortune？
Therefore； if you dedicate your life for the benefit of the world；
You can rely on the world。
If you love dedicating yourself in this way；
You can be entrusted with the world。
14
Look for it； it cannot be seen。
It is called the distant。
Listen for it； it cannot be heard。
It is called the rare。
Reach for it； it cannot be gotten。
It is called the subtle。
These three ultimately cannot be fathomed。
Therefore they join to become one。
Its top is not bright；
Its bottom is not dark；
Existing continuously； it cannot be named and it returns to no…thingness。
Thus； it is called the formless form；
The image of no…thing。
This is called the most obscure。
Go to meet it； you cannot see its face。
Follow it； you cannot see its back。
By holding to the ancient Tao
You can manage present existence
And know the primordial beginning。
This is called the very beginning thread of the Tao。
15
The ancient masters of the Tao
Had subtle marvelous mystic penetration
A depth that cannot be known。
It is exactly because that they are unknowable
That we are forced to pay attention to their appearance。
Hesitant； like one crossing an ice…covered river。
Ready； like one afraid of his neighbors on all sides。
Dignified； like a guest。
Loose； like ice about to melt。
Straightforward； like an uncarved block of wood。
Open； like a valley。
Obscure； like muddy water。
Who can be muddled； and use clarity to gradually become lucid？
Who can be calm； and use constant application for eventual success？
The one who holds to this path does not crave fulfillment。
Precisely because he does not crave fulfillment
He can be shattered
And do without quick restitution。
16
Effect emptiness to the extreme。
Keep stillness whole。
Myriad things act in concert。
I therefore watch their return。
All things flourish and each returns to its root。
Returning to the root is called quietude。
Quietude is called returning to life。
Return to life is called constant。
Knowing this constant is called illumination。
Acting arbitrarily without knowing the constant is harmful。
Knowing the constant is receptivity； which is impartial。
Impartiality is kingship。
Kingship is Heaven。
Heaven is Tao
Tao is eternal。
Though you lose the body； you do not die。
17
From great antiquity forth they have known and possessed it。
Those of the next level loved and praised it。
The next were in awe of it。
And the next despised it。
If you lack sincerity no one will believe you。
How careful she is with her precious words！
W