To discriminate virtue

[Who] knows others the one,
is intelligent.

Himself [who] knows the one is enlightened.

[Who] conquers others

the one has force

Himself [who] conquers the one is mighty.

[Who] knows contentment the one is rich.

[Who] dares to act [move]

the one has will.

Not [who] loses his position the one,

lasts.

[Who] dies yet not perishes

the one is lived [immortal].

Quelling war

 

Even excellent arms [are] an un-bliss among tools.

[all] beasts likely to detest them.

Therefore [who] has reason, the one, not dwells there [relies on them].

The masterly philosopher while at home,

then he esteems the left.

While using arms then he esteems the right.

Arms [are] an un-bliss among tools,

[and] not a masterly man his tools.

[When] not he obtains avoiding [it] and [then only] he uses them.

Peace [and] quietude he makes [holds] high.

Victorious [he is] but not enjoys [it];

and [who] enjoys it [a victory]

the one this [means] [he] likes to kill people.

Now [when] one likes to kill people,

the one, then he will not be able thereby to obtain his wishes in the empire

In propitious affairs we honor the left.

In unpropitious affairs we honor the right.

The assistant army leader sits to the left.

The superior army leader sits to the right.

[This] means [that] occupying a superior position

then according to funeral ceremony is managed it.

The killing of people multitudes,

many with sorrow [and] lamentations [we ought to] weep for them.

[When] In war a victor according to the funeral ceremony must be treated he

Of holiness the virtue

 

Reason, in its eternal aspect, is unnameable.

Simplicity though insignificant, 

the world not dares to subject [it].

Princes [and] kings if they can keep it,

The ten thousand things are going of themselves to pay homage.

Heaven [and] earth mutually combined,

thereby drop sweet dew.

The people will have none as their commanders,

but of themselves they will be righteous.

[When] at first creating order [it becomes] the nameable.

[When] the nameable also already exists

then in turn one is going to know where to stop.

is the reason why there is no danger.

To illustrate:

Reason's being in the universe 

resembles rivers [and] streams [in their relation] to great rivers [and the oceans,

indeed.

Be stingy with wars

 

[Who] with reason assists  the people's master, 

the one not with arms strengthens the empire.

His business methods render good [make welcome] repayment [requital].

An army's place [which] it occupies, 

briars and thorns grow there.

A great war's sequence [after] surely are bad harvests.

The good one [is] resolute and that is all [then he stops].

Not dares he thereby to take by force.

One should be resolute, and not boasting;

resolute, and not haughty [bragging]

resolute, but not arrogant;

resolute, but [only when] not he can avoid [it];

resolute, but not violent.

Things flourish then they decay.

This is called unreason.

Unreason soon ends.

Not-doing

[One who] is going to desire to take the empire and to make it.

I see him not obtain it;

that is all.

The empire [is] a divine vessel.

Not can it be made, indeed.

[Who] makes it, the one, mars it.

[Who] takes hold of it, the one loses it.

Therefore of beings some go on, others follow,

some breathe warmly, others breathe coldly,

some [are] strong, others [are] weak,

some succeed [are filled with a cargo] others succumb [come out vanquished].

Therefore the holy man abandons pleasures abandons extravagance, abandons indulgence.

Returning to simplicity

 

[Who] knows his manhood,

[and] keeps his womanhood,

becomes the world's valley.

Being the world's valley,

the eternal virtue not departs.

He reverts [and] returns to [the state of] an infant child.

[Who] knows his whiteness, 

[and] keeps his blackness,

becomes the world's model.

Being the world's model,

the eternal virtue not is faulty.

He reverts [and] returns to

The unlimited.

[Who] knows his glory, [and] keeps his shame,

becomes the world's vale.

being the world's vale,

the eternal virtue then suffices.

He reverts [and] returns to simplicity.

Simplicity being scattered,

he then will make vessels [of usefulness].

The holy man utilising them,

then will make [them] officers [and] chiefs.

Therefore a great administration does not injure [cut, hurt].

Skill's function

 

Good walkers have no rut [and] track.

Good speakers have no blemish [and] error.

Good counters have no counting bamboo slips.

Good lockers have no bolts [and] keys,

and not one can open [their locks].

Good binders have no rope [and] string,

and not one can loosen [their knots].

Therefore the holy man always in goodness saves men;

for there is no outcast man.

Always in goodness he saves things,

for there is no outcast thing.

This is called concealed enlightenment.

Therefore the good man, the one, the not-good man of,

is the instructor.

The not-good man, the one, the good man of,

is the capital.

[Who] not esteems his instructor.

[Who] not loves his capital,

though intelligent, greatly is bewildered.

This is called significant spirituality.

Imaging the mysterious

There is being contain everything completely.

Before heaven and earth it exists.

Calm! Oh! Incorporeal! Oh!

Alone it stands and not changes.

Everywhere it goes and not [it is] hindered.

It can thereby become the world's mother.

I not know its 600, name.

I characterise it [and] call [it] Reason.

Constrained to make 600, a name for it

[I] call [it] the great.

The great I call the evasive. 

The evasive I call the far.

The far I call the reverting.

For [it is said] Reason [is] great.

Heaven [is] great.

Earth is great.

Royalty [is] also great.

In the world there are four greatnesses,

and royalty dwells among them as one there.

Man follows earth.

Earth follows heaven.

Heaven follows reason.

Reason follows the self like.

 

Dignity's virtue

The heavy is of the right the root.

The quiet is of the moving the master.

Therefore the holy man [in his] all day walks 

not departs from the baggage wagon, the weighty.

Though he have magnificent sights,

he calmly sits [in an] unconcerned manner.

How [is it that] the ten thousand chariots of,

the master yet as to his person

is too light for the empire,

being too light,

then will he lose his vassals;

being too restless.

then will he lose mastership [the throne].

 

Troubles in merit

 

On tiptoe one not stands.

Being astride one not walks.

A self-displaying one not is bright.

A self-asserting one not can shine.

A self-approving one has not merit.

A self-praising one not grows.

Their [relation] with Reason, indeed, is called offal of food,

an excressence in the system:

beings are likely to detest them.

Therefore [who] has reason the one does not dwell [rely on him], indeed.

Emptiness [and] Non-existence

Seldom to speak is natural.
A whirlwind not outlasts the morning.

A violent rain not outlasts the day.

Who causes [them} then, [who is] the one?

[It is] heaven [and] earth.

Heaven [and] earth even not can be persistent.

And much less for man,

indeed!

Therefore [who] pursues business with reason,

the one, a rational one identifies himself with reason.

[Who] pursues business with virtue,

the one identifies himself with virtue.

[Who] pursues business with loss,

the one identifies himself with loss.

[Who] identifies himself with reason,

the one, the reason also he enjoys to obtain he [does].

[Who] identifies himself with virtue,

the one, virtue also he enjoys to obtain he [does].

[Who] identifies himself with loss,

the one, loss also he enjoys to obtain he [does].

[When] faith is not sufficient, 

indeed he will receive not faith.

Increase through humility

 

The crooked the will be perfect.
The distorted then will be straightended.

The empty then will be filled.

The worn out then will be renewed.

The having little then will obtain.

The having much then will be bewildered.

Therefore the holy man embraces unity,

[and] becomes the world's model.

Not himself he makes seen

Therefore he is enlightened.

Not himself he asserts,

therefore he is distinguished.

Not himself he boasts, therefore he has merit.

Not himself he approves, therefore he lasts.

Forasmuch as he will not quarrel

therefore the world not can with him quarrel.

Of yore that which was said:

The crooked then will be perfect,

that by any means [is it] a false saying, indeed?

Truly perfected [they will be]

and return they [will].