Music　and　good　food　will　stop　the　passing　stranger；　but　Tao；　offered　by　the　spoken　word；　seems　unappealing；　tasteless。
  Looked　for；　it　cannot　be　seen；　listend　for；　it　cannot　be　heard；　applied；　it　cannot　be　exhausted。
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  Govern　Peacefully
  That　which　is　to　contract　is　first　expanded；　that　which　is　to　weaken　is　first　strengthened；　that　which　is　to　be　felled　is　first　reinforced。　This　is　subtle　enlightenment。
  Being　gentle　overcomes　strength。　As　fish　should　not　leave　the　deep；　so　the　sharp　weapons　of　the　state　should　always　be　hidden　from　view。
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  Tao　never　acts　directly；　it　activates　erverything。　If　rulers　would　do　likewise　the　world　would　improve　if　itself。
  But　when　improving；　motives　show。　These　should　be　restrained　by　motiveless　Yin。　Motiveless　Yin　is　free　of　all　desire；　and　being　free　of　desire　is　to　be　serene。　Being　serene；　the　world　is　at　peace。
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  Whoever　has　Teh　never　boasts　of　it　and　so　truly　possesses　it。　Whoever　has　Teh　and　boasts　of　it　no　longer　possesses　it。　Possessing　Teh　is　to　be　serene；　with　little　effort　much　is　done　and　motives　diminish。　Losing　Teh　is　to　be　hasty；　with　great　effort　much　is　wasted　and　motives　increase。
  Possessing　Teh　is　to　act　out　of　love　without　ulterior　motive；　losing　Teh　is　to　act　self？righteous　with　an　ulterior　motive。
  Whe　a　person　of　high　station　directs　but　sees　no　following　of　that　direction；　he　shows　his　hand　and　forces　direction。
  When　Tao　is　lost　攃ompassion？becomes　doctrine；　when　compassion　is　lost　攋ustice？becomes　doctrine；　when　justice　is　lost　ritual　becomes　doctrine；　ritual　is　the　slow　loss　of　loyalty；　the　beginning　of　unprincipled　confusion。
  Foreknowledge　is　Tao　blossoming；　it　is　also　the　flower　of　folly。　The　truly　wise　seek　the　center；　not　the　surface；　take　the　fruit；　leaving　the　flower。　Accept　one　and　reject　the　other。
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  Lead　with　a　Deep　Unity
  From　past　ages　there　has　been　Unity：　the　heavens　achieved　it　and　became　clear；　the　earth　achieved　it　and　became　firm；　the　valleys　achieved　it　and　became　fertile；　the　spirit　achieved　it　and　became　inspired；　all　things　achieved　it　and　became　existent；　leaders　achieved　it　and　became　good　rulers。
  Without　clarity　the　heavens　would　be　tempestuous；　without　firmness　the　earth　would　tremble；　without　fertility　the　valleys　would　dry　up；　without　inspiration　the　spirit　would　be　lost；　without　existence　all　things　would　vanish；　rulers　would　falter　and　fail。
  The　good　leaders　are　humble。　The　high　are　founded　on　the　low　just　as　a　chariot　is　made　up　of　many　small　parts。
  Better　to　rumble　like　rocks　（have　depth）　than　to　jingle　lightly　like　jewels　（be　flighty）。
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  Tao　is　an　endless　circle；　ever　returning；　serenity　is　its　ultimate　function；　everything　rises　from　existence；　existence　rises　from　non…existence。
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  Whenever　the　truly　wise　hear　of　Tao　they　strive　earnestly　to　use　it。　Whenever　the　mediocre　hear　of　Tao　they　are　aware；　yet　unaware　of　it。　Whenever　the　stupid　hear　of　Tao　they　laugh　aloud　at　it。　If　it　were　not　laughed　at　it　would　not　be　Tao。
  Therefore　it　is　said　of　Tao：　enlightenment　seems　dullness；　progress　seems　regression；　the　true　path　seems　misleading。
  The　highest　character　seems　recessive　like　a　valley；　the　purest　virtue　seems　tarnished；　the　most　adequate　seems　somehow　insufficient；　the　most　firm　seems　frail；　the　most　fundamental　seems　changeable。
  Great　space　has　no　corners；　great　ability　takes　time　to　mature；　great　music　is　soft　and　mellow；　great　form　is　shapeless；　contourless。
  Tao　is　hidden；　it　is　nameless；　yet　it　stimulates；　it　brings　fulfillment。
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  Out　of　Tao　comes　Unity；　out　of　Unity　comes　two；　from　two　comes　three；　from　three　all　things　come。
  The　shade　of　Yin　is　on　the　back　of　erverything；　the　light　of　Yang　is　on　the　face　of　everything。　From　their　blending　together　balance　exists　in　the　world。
  To　feel　unworthy；　to　be　alone；　orphaned；　is　greatly　feared　and　disliked；　yet　statesmen　claim　these　feelings。　Loss　sometimes　benefits；　benefits　can　be　a　loss。
  Others　have　taught　this　too：　the　violent　meet　violent　ends。　This　is　a　good　teaching。
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  The　softest　will　penetrate　the　hardest；　the　non？existent　will　penetrate　the　existent。
  By　this　I　know　the　value　of　being　passive。　This　is　teaching　without　words；　achievement　without　direct　action。　In　all　the　world　few　know　this。
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  To　have　the　world　know　of　you　or　to　know　yourself；　which　is　more　important？　Money　or　your　mind；　which　is　more　valuable？　Profit　or　loss；　which　is　the　greater　evil？　Overdoing　leads　to　waste；　great　fortunes　invite　theft。　Being　content　prevents　harmful　extremes。　Knowing　where　to　stop　prevents　danger。　To　know　this　is　to　endure。
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  The　most　perfect　seems　imperfect；　but　it　endures　with　constancy。　The　greatest　fullness　seems　empty；　but　it　cannot　be　exhausted。　The　most　straight　seems　twisted；　the　most　skilled　seems　clumsy；　the　most　eloquent　seems　awkward。　Movement　overcomes　coldness；　stillness　overcomes　heat。　The　serene　and　passive　are　guides　for　all。
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  Contentment
  When　the　world　follows　Tao；　racehorses　work　on　farms。　When　the　world　forsakes　Tao；　cavalry　horses　practice　in　parks。
  The　greatest　curse　is　being　discontent。　It　is　the　greatest　misery。　The　greatest　sin　is　selfish　striving。　Being　content　with　contentment　is　to　be　always　satisfied。
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  One　can　know　the　world　without　leaving　the　house。　One　can　see　Tao　without　looking　out　the　window。　The　more　you　study　the　less　you　know。　Thus　the　truly　wise　know　without　traveling；　perceive　without　seeing；　achive　without　doing。
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  The　scholar　needs　to　know　more　and　more　each　day。　The　follower　of　Tao　needs　to　know　less　and　less　each　day。　By　lessening　knowledge　one　reaches　serenity。　With　serenity　everything　can　be　done。　The　world　is　won　by　those　who　leave　it　alone。　When　one　feels　compelled　to　dominate；　the　world　is　already　beyond　reach。
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  The　truly　wise　areselfless；　people抯　needs　are　their　needs。
  The　good　are　treated　with　goodness；　the　bad　are　also　treated　with　goodness；　this　is　the　goodness　of　Teh。
  The　faithful　are　treated　with　faith；　the　faithless　are　also　treated　with　faith；　this　is　the　faith　of　Teh。
  The　truly　wise　are　peacefully　and　impartially。　In　their　eyes　people　share　a　common　heritage。　The　truly　wise　accept　all　people　as　their　own　family。
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  Life　leaves　and　death　enters。　Three　and　ten　parts　accompany　life；　three　and　ten　parts　accompany　death；　three　and　ten　parts　move　toward　death。　Why？　The　wear　of　the　drive　to　live。
  It　is　said　that　whoever　realizes　this　is　not　attacked　by　the　wild　buffalo　or　tiger　and　is　not　vulnerable　on　the　field　of　battle。　The　buffalo抯　horns　find　no　place　to　gore；　the　tiger抯　claws　no　place　to　tear；　the　soldier抯　waepons　no　place　to　pierce。　Why？　Because　death　is　not　yet　within　reach。
  …　Alternate　version：
  Three　parts　in　ten　accompany　life；　three　parts　in　ten　accompany　death；　three　parts　in　ten　move　toward　death。　Why？　Living　tips　the　balance　toward　dying。
  It　is　said　that　whoever　realizes　this　is　not　attacked　by　the　wild　buffalo　or　tiger　and　is　not　vulnerable　on　the　field　of　battle。　The　buffalo抯　horns　find　no　place　to　gore；　the　tiger抯　claws　no　place　to　tear；　the　soldier抯　waepons　no　place　to　pierce。　Why？　Because　death　is　not　yet　within　reach。
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  Tao　causes　all　things　to　exist；　Teh　sustains　them。　Reality　gives　them　form；　fate　finishes　them。　Thus　all　things　honor　Tao　and　respect　Teh　of　their　own　accord。
  So；　Tao　causes　all　things　to　exist　and　Teh　sustains　them。　It　fosters　growth；　develops　them；　harbors　them；　provides　shelter。　It　nourishes　them；　gives　protection。
  Everything　exists　through　Tao　and　nothing　is　rejected；　everything　is　produced　through　Tao　but　Tao　is　not　possessive；　Tao　is　superior　but　never　interferes。
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  The　beginning　of　the　universe　may　be　considered　its　mother。　Knowing　the　mother　the　sons　can　be　known；　kowing　the　sons　we　can　keep　close　to　the　mother。　Thus　life　finds　security　within　itself。
  Eyes　closed；　mouth　shut；　life　is　without　trouble。　Eyes　open；　busily　conversant；　life　is　without　hope。
  Whoever　sees　the　most　minute　sees　clearest。　Whoever　cherishes　the　weak　has　the　most　strength。　Whoever　uses　enlightenment　has　bright　vision。　Thus；　no　harm　is　done。　This　is　following　Tao。
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  The　Main　Path　of　Tao
  Let　me　walk　along　the　main　path　of　Tao　and　avoid　by…paths　of　worthless　knowledge。　I　would　not　leave　this　main　path；　so　easily　followed；　but　many　people　prefer　the　by…paths。
  The　palaces　are　well　kept　while　fields　go　untilled　and　the　granaries　are　empty。　To　wear　elegant　clothes；　to　carry　a　fine　sword；　to　gorge　with　food　and　drink；　to　have　wealth　and　riches；　all　this　invites　plunder。　Is　this　not　departing　from　Tao？
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  Whatever　is　firmly　planted　is　not　easily　uprooted；　whatever　is　firmly　grasped　is　not　easily　loosened。　Thus；　generation　follows　generation；　continuing　endlessly。
  Accept　Tao　in　yourself　and　Teh　is　yours；　accept　Tao　in　the　family　and　Teh　is　abundant；　accept　Tao　in　the　village　and　Teh　multiplies；　accept　Tao　in　the　nation