Different from the vulgar

 

Abandon learnedness you have no anxiety.

The yes in its addition to [contrast to] the yea mutually differ how little?

The good in its addition to [contrast to] the bad mutually differ how much?

By the people that which is feared not can not be feared.

Desolation! Oh!

It has not yet reached the limit, indeed!

All people [are] joyful, joyful.

They are like celebrating a great feast.

They are like in springtime ascending a tower.

I alone am calm, 

Oh! as he [who has] not yet an omen.

I am like an infant child who does not yet smile.

Forlorn [so] forlorn

Oh! like not having any place whereto to return.

The multitude of people all have plenty.

But I alone [am] like wanting.

I [am] a foolish man in the heart, indeed!

Ignorant, [so] ignorant,

Oh! Common people [are] bright, so bright.

I alone resemble the dull.

Common people [are] smart [so] smart.

I [am] alone confused,

[so] confused.

Desolate! Oh! like the ocean.

Adrift! Oh! like not having any place for anchorage

The multitude of people all have usefulness.

But I alone am awkward and also rustic.

 I alone differ from the people, but prize the seeking food from mother [viz. the Tao].

Returning to purity

 

Abandon saintliness, relinquish prudence;

the people will benefit [increase] hundred times.

Abandon benevolence, relinquish righteousness;

the people will return to filial piety [and parental affection].

Abandon cleverness, relinquish gain;

thieves [and] robbers will not appear.

These are three things wherein to have culture is not sufficient.

Therefore let them hold that which is reliable

Recognise simplicity, embrace purity,

lessen selfishness, diminish desires.

 

Vulgarity's palliation

 

[When] the great Reason degenerates,

we have  benevolence [and] righteousness.

[When] prudence [and] wisdom appear,

we have great hypocrisy.

[When] the six family relations are not friendly,

we [the preaching of] filial piety [and] paternal affection.

[When] the state with its families is confused [and] out of order,

there are loyalty [and] faithness.

Simplicity of habit

 

[Under] the great superiors the inferiors not know the existence of them.

[Where] their next [rule][the people] are attached to them, they praise them.

[Where] their next [rule][the people] fear them.

[Where] their next [rule][the people] despise them.

Therefore [when] faith is not sufficient one finds not faith.

[How] reluctantly!

Oh! they esteem [their] words.

Merits [they] perform, deeds accomplish;

the hundred families all say we [are] self-like.

Returning to the root

 

Attain to vacuity's summit.

Keep tranquility's essence.

The ten thousand things altogether arise.

I thereby recognise their returning.

Now things bloom

in bloom each one reverts [and] returns to its root.

The returning to the root is called tranquility.

This is called the returning to destiny.

The returning to destiny is called the eternal.

To know the eternal is called enlightenment.

[When] not one knows the eternal, disorder arises, [which is] evil!

Knowing the eternal [makes] comprehensive

Comprehensive means catholic (broad)

Catholic means royal.

Royal means heavenly.

Heavenly means rational.

Rational means everlasting.

The end of the body it is not dangerous.

Revealers of virtue

 

In olden time [who] well [were entitled] to be masters

the ones [were subtle], spiritual, profound penetrating.

Their profundity not could be understood.

Since not they can be understood,

therefore I try to make them intelligible.

Cautious! Oh!

[they were] like in winter wading a river.

Reluctant! Oh!

like fearing in the four [quarters] neighbors.

Reserved oh! they were like guests.

Elusive! Oh!

like ice which is going to melt.

Simple! Oh!

they were like unseasoned wood.

Empty! Oh!

they were like a valley.

Obscure! Oh!

they were like disturbed water.

Who can the disturbed by quieting it gradually purify?

Who can the quiet by moving them gradually bring to life.

Who keeps this Reason does not wish to be filled.

Since not filled therefore he is able to grow old [and need] not newly be fashioned.

Praising the profound

 

[When] looking at it not it is seen.

It is called colorless.

[When] listening to it not it is heard.

It is called soundless.

[When] grasping it not it is seized.

It is called incorporeal.

These three things not can be subjected to scrutiny.

Therefore they are mingled together and form a unity.

Its surface is not clear; 

its bottom is not obscure.

Continuously [and] continuously 

Oh! not it can be named.

It reverts [and] returns to non-existence.

This is called of non-form the form,

of non-image, the image.

This is called abstrusely abstruse.

In the front of it not is seen its head.

In the rear of it not is seen its back.

By holding fast to the ancients of,

the Reason,

thereby [the sage] governs the present day of existence,

thus knows of the olden time the beginning.

This is called Reason's thread.

Loathing shame

 

Favor [and] disgrace are like fear.

Esteem great anxiety like, the body.

What is meant by favor [and] disgrace are like fear?

Favor renders lowly.

The obtaining of it is like fear.

The losing of it is like fear.

This means [that] favor [and] disgrace are like fear.

What is meant by esteeming great anxiety as like one's person?

I the reason why have great anxiety that is that I have a body.

When I have no body, I have what anxiety?  [Answer: None!]

Therefore:

Who esteems as [his own] body when administrating, the empire

the one then [he] is able thereby to be trusted with the empire.

Abstaining from desire

The five colors make the human eye blind.

The five notes make the human ear deaf.

The five tastes make the human mouth blunt.

Horse-racing, over-riding, [and] field-hunting make the human heart turn mad.

The difficulty in the obtaining of treasures makes the human conduct checked.

Therefore the holy man attends to the inner [the soul]

not he attends to to the eye [the visible, the outer].

Therefore he dismisses the latter, he takes the former.

 

Of non-existence the use

Three [times] ten spokes unite in one nave.

Through its void, there is the wheel's utility.

By kneading clay thereby is made the vessel.

Through its void, there is the vessel's utility.

By cutting out doors [and] windows, thereby is made a room.

Through its void there is the room's utility.

Therefore, existence's thus being profitable [is] non-existence's thus being useful.

 

What can be done

 

By sustaining by disciplining the animal spirit,
by embracing unity one can be without disintegration.

By concentrating the vital force, 

by inducing tenderness,

one can be an infant child.

By washing,

by cleaning,

by profound intuition,

one can be without faults.

In loving the people,

in ruling the country,

one can practise non-action.

The Heaven's gate opening closing 

one can act [like] a mother-bird

Bright, white, the four [quarters],

penetrating one can be not-knowing.

Quickening them,

feeding them,

he produces and not owns.

He acts and not claims.

He raises and not rules.

This is called profound virtue.