Though　formless　and　intangible
  It　gives　rise　to　form
  Though　vague　and　elusive
  It　gives　rise　to　shapes
  Though　dark　and　obscure
  It　is　the　spirit；　the　essence；　the　life…breath　of　all　things
  揃ut　is　it　real？？you　ask　？br》　I　say　its　evidence　is　all　of　creation！
  From　the　first　moment　to　the　present
  The　Name　has　been　sounding
  It　is　the　gate　through　which　the　universe　enters
  The　witness　by　which　the　universe　sees
  How　have　I　come　to　know　all　this？
  That　the　very　Name　has　told　me；
  That　Name　which　is　sounding　tight　here；　right　now
  22
  揝urrender　brings　perfection？br》　The　crooked　become　straight
  The　empty　become　full
  The　worn　become　new
  Have　little　and　gain　much
  Have　much　and　be　confused
  So　the　Sage　embraces　the　One　and　become　a　model　for　the　world
  Without　showing　himself；　he　shines　forth
  Without　promoting　himself；　he　is　distinguished
  Without　claiming　reward；　he　gains　endless　merit
  Without　seeking　glory；　his　glory　endures
  The　Sage　knows　how　to　follow　so　he　comes　to　command
  He　does　not　compete　so　no　one　under　Heaven　can　compete　with　him
  The　ancient　saying；　揝urrender　brings　perfection；？is　not　just　empty　words
  Truly；　surrender　brings　perfection　and　perfection　brings　the　whole　universe
  23
  Speak　little
  Hold　to　your　own　nature
  A　strong　wind　does　not　blow　all　morning
  A　cloudburst　does　not　last　all　day
  The　wind　and　the　rain　are　form　Heaven　and　Earth　and　even　these　do　not　last　long
  How　much　less　so　the　efforts　of　man？
  One　who　lives　in　accordance　with　the　Truth　becomes　an　embodiment　of　Tao
  His　actions　become　those　of　Nature　his　ways　those　of　Heaven
  It　is　through　such　a　one　that　Heaven　rejoices　that　Earth　rejoices　that　all　of　life　rejoices
  24
  On　his　tiptoes　a　man　is　not　steady
  Taking　long　strides　he　cannot　keep　pace
  To　the　self…serving；　nothing　shines　forth
  To　the　self…promoting；　nothing　is　distinguished
  To　the　self…appointing；　nothing　bears　fruit
  To　the　self…righteous；　nothing　endures
  From　the　viewpoint　of　Tao；　this　self…indulgence　is　like　rotting　food　and　painful　growths　on　the　body　？br》　Things　that　all　creatures　despise
  So　why　hold　onto　them？
  When　walking　the　paths　of　Tao　this　is　the　very　stuff　that　must　be　uprooted；　thrown　out；　and　left　behind
  25
  Something　formless；　complete　in　itself
  There　before　Heaven　and　Earth
  Tranquil；　vast；　standing　alone；　unchanging
  It　provide　for　all　things　yet　cannot　be　exhausted
  It　is　the　mother　of　the　universe
  I　do　not　know　its　name　so　I　call　it　揟ao？br》　Forced　to　name　it　further
  I　call　it　揟he　greatness　of　all　things？揟he　end　of　all　endings？br》　I　call　it　揟hat　which　is　beyond　the　beyond？揟hat　to　which　all　things　return？br》　From　Tao　comes　all　greatness　？br》　I　makes　Heaven　great
  It　makes　Earth　great
  It　makes　man　great
  Mankind　depends　on　the　laws　of　the　Earth
  Earth　depends　on　the　laws　of　Heaven
  Heaven　depends　on　the　laws　of　Tao
  But　Tao　depends　on　itself　alone
  Supremely　free；　self…so；　it　rests　in　its　own　nature
  26
  The　inner　is　foundation　of　the　outer
  The　still　is　the　master　of　the　restless
  The　Sage　travels　all　day　yet　never　leaves　his　inner　treasure
  Though　the　views　are　captivating　and　beg　attention　he　remains　calm　and　uninvolved
  Tell　me；　does　the　lord　of　a　great　empire　go　out　begging　for　rice？
  One　who　seeks　his　treasure　in　the　outer　world　is　cut　off　from　his　own　roots
  Without　roots；　he　becomes　restless
  Being　restless；　his　mind　is　weak
  And　with　a　mind　such　as　this　he　loses　all　command　below　Heaven
  27
  A　knower　of　the　Truth　travels　without　leaving　a　trace　speaks　without　causing　harm　gives　without　keeping　an　account
  The　doors　he　shuts；　though　having　no　lock；　cannot　be　opened
  The　know　he　ties；　though　using　no　cord；　cannot　be　undone
  The　Sage　is　always　on　the　side　of　virtue　so　everyone　around　him　prospers
  He　is　always　on　the　side　of　truth　so　everything　around　him　is　fulfilled
  The　path　of　the　Sage　is　called　揟he　Path　of　Illumination？br》　He　who　gives　himself　to　this　path　is　like　a　block　of　wood　that　gives　itself　to　the　chisel　？br》　Cut　by　cut　it　is　honed　to　perfection
  Only　a　student　who　gives　himself　can　receive　the　master抯　gift
  If　you　think　otherwise；　despite　your　knowledge；　you　have　blundered
  Giving　and　receiving　are　one
  This　is　called；　揟he　great　wonder？揟he　essential　mystery？揟he　very　heart　of　all　that　is　true？br》
  28
  Hold　your　male　side　with　your　female　side
  Hold　your　bright　side　with　your　dull　side
  Hold　your　high　side　with　your　low　side
  Then　you　will　be　able　to　hold　the　whole　world
  When　the　opposing　forces　unite　within　there　comes　a　power　abundant　in　its　giving　and　unerring　in　its　effect
  Flowing　through　everything　It　returns　one　to　the　First　Breath
  Guiding　everything　It　returns　one　to　No　Limits
  Embracing　everything　It　returns　one　to　the　Uncarved　Block
  When　the　block　is　divided　it　becomes　something　useful　and　leaders　can　rule　with　a　few　pieces　of　it
  But　the　Sage　holds　the　Block　complete
  Holding　all　things　within　himself　he　preserves　the　Great　Unity　which　cannot　be　ruled　or　divided
  29
  Those　who　look　down　upon　this　world　will　surely　take　hold　and　try　to　change　things
  But　this　is　a　plan　I抳e　always　seen　fail
  The　world　is　Tao抯　own　vessel
  It　is　perfection　manifest
  It　cannot　be　changed
  It　cannot　be　improved
  For　those　who　go　on　tampering；　it抯　ruined
  For　those　who　try　to　grasp；　it抯　gone
  Allow　your　life　to　unfold　naturally
  Know　that　it　too　is　a　vessel　of　perfection
  Just　as　you　breathe　in　and　out
  Sometimes　you抮e　ahead　and　other　times　behind
  Sometimes　you抮e　strong　and　other　times　weak
  Sometimes　you抮e　with　people　and　other　times　alone
  To　the　Sage　all　of　life　is　a　movement　toward　perfection
  So　what　need　has　he　for　the　excessive；　the　extravagant；　or　the　extreme？
  30
  Those　who　rule　in　accordance　with　Tao　do　not　use　force　against　the　world
  For　that　which　is　forced　is　likely　to　return　？br》　Where　armies　settle
  Nature　offers　nothing　but　briars　and　thorns
  After　a　great　battle　has　been　fought；　the　land　is　cursed；　the　crops　fail；　the　Earth　lies
  stripped　of　its　motherhood
  A　knower　of　the　Truth　does　what　is　called　for　then　stops
  He　uses　his　strength　but　does　not　force　things
  In　the　same　way　complete　your　task　seek　no　reward　make　no　claims
  Without　faltering　fully　choose　to　do　what　you　must　do
  This　is　to　live　without　forcing　to　overcome　without　conquering
  Things　that　gain　a　place　by　force　will　flourish　for　a　time　but　then　fade　away
  They　are　not　in　keeping　with　Tao
  Whatever　is　not　in　keeping　with　Tao　will　come　to　an　early　end
  31
  Even　the　finest　warrior　is　defeated　when　he　goes　against　natural　law
  By　his　own　hand　he　is　doomed　and　all　creatures　are　likely　to　despise　him
  One　who　knows　Tao　never　turns　from　life抯　calling
  When　at　home　he　honours　the　side　of　rest
  When　at　war　he　honours　the　side　of　action
  Peace　and　tranquility　are　what　he　holds　most　dear　so　he　does　not　obtain　weapons
  But　when　their　use　is　unavoidable　he　employs　them　with　fortitude　and　zeal
  Do　not　flaunt　your　excellence
  Do　not　rejoice　over　victory
  With　the　loss　of　others　weep　with　sorrow　and　grief
  After　winning　a　battle；　do　not　celebrate；　observe　the　rites　of　a　funeral
  One　who　is　bound　to　action；　proud　of　victory；　and　delights　in　the　misfortune　of　others
  will　never　gain　a　thing　from　this　world　below　Heaven
  32
  Tao　is　eternal；　one　without　a　second
  Simple　indeed　yet　so　subtle　that　no　one　can　master　it
  If　princes　and　kings　could　jus　hold　it
  All　things　would　flock　to　their　kingdom
  Heaven　and　Earth　would　rejoice　with　the　dripping　of　sweet　dew
  Everyone　would　live　in　harmony；　not　by　official　decree；　but　by　their　own　inner　goodness
  This　world　is　nothing　but　the　glory　of　Tao　expressed　through　different　names　and　forms
  One　who　sees　the　things　of　this　world　as　being　real　and　self…existent　has　lost　sight　of　the　truth
  To　him；　every　word　becomes　a　trap　every　thing　becomes　a　prison
  One　who　knows　the　truth　that　underlies　all　things　lives　in　this　world　without　danger
  To　him；　every　word　reflects　the　universe　every　moment　brings　enlightenment
  Rivers　and　streams　are　born　of　the　ocean
  All　creation　is　born　of　Tao
  Just　as　all　water　flows　back　to　become　the　ocean
  All　creation　flows　back　to　become　Tao
  33
  One　who　knows　others　is　intelligent
  One　who　knows　himself　is　enlightened
  One　who　conquers　others　is　strong
  One　who　conquers　himself　is　all…powerful
  One　who　approaches　life　with　force　surely　gets　something
  One　who　remains　content　where　he　is　surely　gets　everything
  One　who　gives　himself　to　his　position　surely　lives　long
  One　who　gives　himself　to　Tao　surely　lives　forever
  34
  The　great　Tao　flows　everywhere
  It　fills　everything　to　the　left　and　to　the　ri