In the world, [when] all know beauty in its acting as beauty,
then [there is] ugliness only.
[When] all know goodness in its acting as goodness
then [there is] not goodness only.
For existence [and] non-existence mutually are produced.
The difficult the easy mutually are perfected.
The long the short mutually are shaped.
The high [and] the low mutually are inclining.
Tone [and] voice mutually are harmonised.
The before [and] the after mutually follow.
Therefore the holy man dwells in not-doing in his business.
He practises not-saying in his education.
The ten thousand things arise there! and not he refuses [them].
He produces and not he owns.
He acts and not he claims
Merit he accomplishes and not he dwells.
For as much just [as] not he dwells therefore not he departs.
