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Blunting sharpnesses； resolving conflicts； softening lights。
It thus harmonizes the dusty world。
So deep and profound；
It has forever existed。
I do not now whose child it is；
It has existed before the notion of god。
5
Heaven and earth are inhumane；
They treat all things like straw dogs；
The rule is inhumane；
He treats his people like straw dogs。
Between the heaven and earth； is it like a bellows？
It is empty yet inexhaustible； and
More agitations produce even more disturbances。
Much arguments are destined to end；
It is better to remain with the central core。
6
The valley spirit never dies；
It is the mysterious female。
The gate of the mysterious female；
Is the root of Heaven and Earth。
It exists forever in continuum；
And using it； it is inexhaustible。
7
Heaven is permanent and Earth everlasting。
The reason Heaven and Earth are permanent and everlasting is that
They do not exist for themselves。
Therefore they last forever。
Thus the sage：
Gets ahead by staying behind；
Survives by being selfless。
Is it no his being selfless that enables him to fulfill his wishes？
8
The ultimate good is like water。
Water benefits all things without competing with them。
It stays at places where all people disdain；
Therefore it is close to Tao。
A habitat is good because of its location；
A mind is good because of its profundity；
A friend is good because of his kindness；
A statement is good because of its credibility；
A government is good because of its excellent management；
A worker is good because of his productivity； and
A move is good because of its timeliness。
Only by being not contentious；
Will there be no ill will。
9
Holding a cup to fill it to brim；
It is better to stop in time。
Making a sword extremely sharp；
It is hard to keep its sharpness for long。
Filling up a hall with gold and jade；
It cannot be securely guarded。
He who becomes arrogant with wealth and power；
Sows the seeds of his own misfortune。
Retire once the work is successfully completed。
This is the way of heaven。
10
Command your body and soul to embrace the One；
Can there be no separation？
Concentrate your vital energy to achieve complete softness；
Can you be like an infant？
Cleanse your thoughts and purify your insight；
Can you be flawless？
In loving your people and governing your state；
Can you be without preconception？
In opening and closing the gate of Heaven；
Can you behave like a female？
In comprehending and penetrating the truth；
Can you be mindful of taking no action against Tao？
In producing and in nurturing lives； you are：
To produce； but not to possess；
To care for； but not to control；
To lead； but not to subjugate。
This is known as the profound virtue。
11
Thirty spokes are joined around the wheel抯 hub；
Its non…being makes the carriage useful。
Clay is molded to make a pot；
Its non…being provides the utility。
Doors and windows are cut to make a room；
Their utility is furnished by non…being。
Therefore；
Being only facilitates； non…being provides utility。
12
The five colours may blind one抯 eyes；
The five tones may deafen one抯 ears；
The five flavours may dull one抯 taste；
Racing and hunting may madden one抯 mind；
Rare commodities may prompt people抯 illicit activities。
Therefore；
The sage emphasizes the essentials of life； not the superficial temptations。So he accepts this and rejects the other。
13
Exceptional favour or disgrace causes anxieties。
Treat calamities as treats to your body。
What is meant by 揺xceptional favour or disgrace causes anxieties？
Exceptional favour is granted to someone of low status：
Whoever receives it is anxious about what is expected of him；
Whoever loses it is anxious about the accompanying disgrace。
This explains 揺xceptional favour or disgrace cause anxieties？
What is meant by 搕reat calamities as threats to your body？
The reason I encounter calamities is that I have e a body。
If I no longer have a body； what calamity do I have？
Therefore；
He who values the world as his self merits the confidence of the world；
He who loves the world as his self deserves the trust of the world。
14
Looking at without seeing it； it is invisible；
Listening to without hearing it； it is inaudible；
Holding onto without finding it； it is intangible；
These three need no further inquiry； they are thus merged into the One：
It is not bright above； nor dark below；
Boundless beyond description； and reverting back to nothingness。
It is a shape without form； an image without substance； and
A blurred ambiguity。
Facing it； one sees no head； and following it； one sees no back。
Holding fast the Tao of old；
For the understanding of current discoveries；
One may learn the beginning of Creation。
This is called the principle of Tao。
15
A good practitioner of Tao of old is：
A man of subtlety with deep insight；
But it is too profound to understand
Simply because he cannot be understood； one has to describe him as follow：
Cautious； like one crossing a frozen stream in winter；
Hesitant； like one fearing his surrounding neighbours；
Reserved； like a polite guest；
Supple； like ice about to melt；
Honest； like a piece of of virgin wood；
Open…minded； like a valley； and
Confused； like muddy water。
Who can get rid of the muddiness？
It gradually clears though stillness。
Who can revitalize it after long stillness？
It gradually returns to life through activities。
A practitioner of Tao has no desire for filling to brim。
Just because of no filling to the brim；
He will not be worn out but be renewed。
16
Attain the utmost emptiness of mind；
Maintain the utmost stillness。
While all things are simultaneously developing；
I can observe their cycles。
Though everything is flourishing； each will return to its root；
Returning to the root means stillness； and
Stillness marks the cycle of life。
The cycle of life is an eternal truth；
Knowing the truth is called enlightenment；
Not knowing the truth and acting blindly results in disaster。
Knowing the truth enhances forbearance；
Forbearance leads to objectivity；
Objectivity becomes the universal rule；
The universal rule is in accord with Nature； and
Nature is in harmony with Tao。
Tao is everlasting； and
Prevails over one抯 lifetime。
17
The best ruler； the people only know of his existence；
The next best； the people praise and want to be near him；
The next； the people fear him；
The last； the people despise him。
If there is not enough faith；
There will be no faith。
The best ruler is so relaxed； he hardly talks。