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49
The sage has no set mind。 She adopts the concerns of others as her own。
She is good to the good。 She is also good to the bad。 This is real goodness。
She trusts the trustworthy。 She also trusts the untrustworthy。 This is real trust。
The sage takes the minds of the worldly and spins them around。 People drop their ideas and agendas； and she guides them like beloved children。
50
Between their births and their deaths；
three out of ten are attached to life； three out of ten are attached to death； three out of ten are just idly passing through。 Only one knows how to die and stay dead and still go on living。
That one hasn't any ambitions； hasn't any ideas； makes no plans。 From this mysterious place of not…knowing and non…doing he gives birth to whatever is needed in the moment。 Because he is constantly filling his being with nonbeing； he can travel the wilds without worrying about tigers or wild buffalo； or he can cross a battlefield without armour or weapon。
No tiger can claw him。 No buffalo can gore him。 No weapon can pierce him。 Why is this so？ Because he has died； there isn't any more room for death in him。
51
Tao gives life to all beings。 Nature nourishes them。 Fellow creatures shape them。 Circumstances complete them。 Everything in existence respects Tao and honours nature … not by decree； but spontaneously。 Tao gives life to all beings。 Nature watches over them； develops them； shelters them； nurses them； grows them； ripens them； completes them； buries them； and returns them。
Giving birth； nourishing life； shaping things without possessing them； serving without expectation of reward； leading without dominating： These are the profound virtues of nature； and of nature's best beings。
52
The origin and mother of everything in the world is Tao。
Know the mother and you can know the children。 Having known the children； return to their source and hold on to her。 Abiding by the mother； you are free from danger； even when your body dies。
Don't live for your senses。 Close your mouth； close all the body's openings； and reside in the original unity。 In this way you can pass your life in peace and contentment。
Open your mouth； increase your activities； start making distinctions between things； and you'll toil forever without hope。
See the subtle and be illuminated。 Abide in gentleness and be strong。
Use your light； and return to insight。 Don't expose yourself to trouble。 This is following Tao。
53
Because I have a little wisdom； I choose to walk the great path of Tao and fear nothing except to stray from it。
The great way is very smooth and easy； but some people are fond of getting sidetracked。
When a ruler's palace is full of treasure； the people's fields are weedy and their granaries are empty。
If the ruler wears fancy clothes and his house is full of weapons； if his table is laden with extravagant food and drink and everywhere one looks he has more wealth than he can use； the ruler is a robber and thief。 This is not in keeping with Tao。
54
Plant yourself firmly in the Tao and you won't ever be uprooted。 Embrace Tao firmly and you won't ever be separated from it。 Your children will thrive； and your children's children。
Cultivate goodness in your self； and goodness will be genuine。 Cultivate it in your family； and goodness will flourish。 Cultivate it in your community； and goodness will grow and multiply。 Cultivate it in your country； and goodness will be abundant。 Cultivate it in the world； and goodness will be everywhere。
How do I know the world works like this？ By watching。
55
She who is filled with goodness is like a newborn child： wasps and snakes will not bite it； fierce beasts will not attack it； birds of prey will not pounce on it。 Its bones are soft and its muscles weak； but its grip is firm。
It hasn't yet known the union of male and female； yet its organ stirs with vitality。
It can howl all day without becoming hoarse； so perfect is its harmony。 To know harmony is to know the eternal。 To know the eternal is to be illumined。
Prolonging life is not harmonious。/ Coercing the breath is unnatural。
Things which are overdeveloped must decay。 All this is contrary to Tao； and whatever is contrary to Tao soon ceases to be。
56
Those who know don't talk。 Those who talk don't know。
Close your mouth。 Block the door。 Quiet your senses。 Blunt the sharpness。 Untie the tangles。 Soften the brightness。 Be one with the dust； and enter the primal oneness。
One who has merged with Tao in this way can't be courted； can't be bought； can't be harmed； can't be honoured； can't be humiliated。 He is the treasure of the world。
57
Govern a nation by following nature。 Fight a war with unexpected moves。 Win the world by letting go。 How do I know this？ From seeing these：
The more prohibitions there are； the poorer people become。 The more weapons there are； the darker things become。
The more laws there are； the greater the number of scoundrels。
Therefore the sage says： I take no action； and people transform themselves。 I love tranquility； and people naturally do what is right。
I don't interfere； and people prosper on their own。 I have no desires； and people return to simplicity。
58
When the government is dull and sleepy； people are wholesome and good。 When the government is sharp and exacting； people are cunning and mean。
Good rests upon bad。 Bad hides within good。
Who knows where the turning point is？ Whether government or person； if you aren't tranquil and honest； the normal flips to the abnormal； the auspicious reverts to the bizarre； and your bewilderment lasts for a long time。
Therefore the sage does what is right without acting righteous； points without piercing； straightens without straining； enlightens without dazzling。
59
In governing people and serving heaven； there is nothing better than moderation。
To be moderate is to follow Tao without straying。 To follow Tao without straying is to become filled with good energy。 To be filled with good energy is to overcome all things。 To overcome all things is to know that all things are possible。
She who knows that all things are possible is fit to govern people。
Because she is one with the mother； her roots go deep； her foundation stands firm； her life lasts long； her vision endures。
60
Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish。
If it's done in accordance with Tao； nothing bad will happen。 Guide the world with Tao； and evil won't be a problem。
Not that it won't be around； but it won't find an opening； it can't harm anyone。
The sage doesn't harm anyone； either。 When there's no harm on this side； no harm on that； goodness flows back and forth like water。
61
A great country is like a low…lying land into which many streams flow。 It draws powerful energies to it as a receptive woman draws an eager man。 The feminine can always conquer the masculine by yielding and taking the lower position。 In this way she becomes as low…lying land： in time； everything comes