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1
Who would follow the Way
must go beyond words。
Who would know the world
must go beyond names。
Nameless； all things begin。
Named； all things are born。
Empty of intent； one may be filled with awe。
Full of intent； one may know what's manifest。
One source； different fonts。
Wonders both。
From wonder into wonder；
existence opens。
2
Beauty as beauty？ Only with ugliness。
Goodness as goodness？ Only with villainy。
Being and non…being arise as one。
Hard and easy；
long and short；
high and low；
text and voice；
before and after
gain meaning together。
A wise man works without ado；
and teaches by example merely。
He creates； not claiming it his own。
He works； not waiting for return。
With deeds complete； he sets no store by them。
When achievements are not owned； neither can they be lost。
3
Esteem no one especially worthy；
and men are freed from rivalry。
Prize no rarity；
and men are freed from thievery。
Place no treasure where all may see；
and men are freed from envy。
Who governs well
clears minds and fills stomachs；
diffuses ambitions and consolidates bones。
Where hearts and minds are free from want；
no cunning foe can muster discord。
Where no one needs to intervene；
order reigns freely。
4
The Way； how like an empty vessel；
yet it never needs refilling。
Bottomless it is；
like the wellspring of creation。
It blunts sharp edges；
unravels knots；
softens glare；
and settles clouds of dust。
Submerged deeply； obscurely seen。
Who knows wherefrom？
It just echoes from the time before time。
5
Nature is indifferent；
respecting all creation as straw dogs。
Wise men are indifferent；
respecting all that humans do as straw dogs。
The hollow between heaven and earth；
how like a bellows it is：
empty； yet inexhaustible。
The more it empties； the more it gives。
Words fill space needlessly。
Hold fast to the center。
6
The spirit of the valley never dies。
They call it wondrous female。
Through the portal of her mystery
creation ever wells forth。
It lingers like gossamer and seems not to be；
yet when summoned； ever flows freely。
7
Heaven is perpetual。
Earth endures。
Never born； they never die；
yet ever do they serve life's ends。
Who counts himself last is summoned first。
Who sheds his own…ness finds oneness in all。
Who never becomes an end in himself
endlessly becomes himself。
8
Utmost virtue； how like water。
Water gives all creatures life
and flows in lowly places；
ever closer to the Way。
Dwell lowly。
Respect deeply。
Trust freely。
Govern justly。
Work authentically。
Act upon opportunity。
Who does not contend
is free of contention。
9
The more you draw a bow that's taut；
the sooner your muscles regret the thought。
The keener the edge； the sharper the blade；
the harder it is to keep that way。
As gold and jade accumulate；
ways to safeguard them dissipate。
The higher the rank； the greater the riches；
the greater the load on which fortune hinges。
A full day ends with the setting sun。
Wise men retire when work is done。
10
Honoring yin and yang；
do you embrace the One？
Focusing your chi within；
are you soft as if newborn？
Tending the mirror dark within；
do you keep it blemish…free？
Caring for the citizenry；
are you unassuming？
As heaven's portals open and close；
do you receive as yin？
As your knowledge grows；
do you still know nothing； too？
Creating； not claiming as one's own；
working； not waiting for return；
guiding； not seeking to control；
such is the wonder of integrity。
11
Collect thirty spokes on a single hub。
In the empty space the usefulness lies。
Form a bowl from lumps of clay。
In the empty space the usefulness lies。
Frame your walls with windows and doors。
In the empty space the usefulness lies。
So：
Advantage comes from what is there；
usefulness from what is not。
12
Too many colors overwhelm the eye。
Too many sounds flood the ear。
Too many flavors numb the palate。
Gambling and sport overtake the heart。
Prized possessions overtake the mind。
Therefore；
a wise man attends to his needs
and not his senses。
He releases what is without
for what is within。
13
Anticipating favor brings distress。
To guard against disgrace gives stress no less。
Best be startled by neither。
Misery befalls the self。
No self； no misery。
Just so for rank and misfortune。
Who does not rank himself above all else；
may be entrusted with an empire。
Who graces all creatures as himself；
may be given custody of the world。
14
Look： you cannot see it；
for it is invisible。
Listen： you cannot hear it；
for it is inaudible；
Grasp： you cannot hold it；
for it is intangible。
Each as unfathomable as the next；
these three become as one。
It threads into the gateway of wonder
and returns again to nothingness。
The form of the formless； the image of the imageless；
elusive and beyond imagination。
From above； there is no light reflected。
From below； no shadow cast。
From before； there is nothing to meet；
From behind； no thing to follow。
Mindful of one's primal roots；
one floats along the Way。
15
The ancient adepts of the Way；
how subtly engaged；
how cryptically perceptive。
Yet fragments of their wisdom linger：
Alert； as if treading over icy streams。
Cautious； as if threatened by neighbors。 Considerate； like a welcome guest。
Fluid； like melting ice。
Simple； like an unhewn block。
Open； like a valley。
Tumbling； like turbulent waters。
Who finds quiescence while turbulence settles？
Who is astir before the moment is ripe？
Who does not want fulfillness
may be incomplete and threadbare。
16
Let emptiness fill you。
Let stillness reign within。
Now；
as creation unfolds； observe its return as well。
For as all creatures flourish；
so is each returning to its source。
All returns to stillness。
Thus nature is renewed。
Thus nature endures。
Appreciating the perpetual invites enlightenment。
Recklessly ignoring what endures invites catastrophe。
Appreciating the perpetual opens the mind。
An open mind fosters perspective；
perspective； transcendence；
transcendence； divinity；
divinity； oneness with the Way：
the Way which is everlasting。
Even as bodies die and decay；
the Way will ever be the Way。
17
Who leads well； the people never notice。
Next； comes one they cherish；
next； one they fe