1.
A way that can be walked is not the Eternal Way.
A name that can be spoken is not the Eternal Name.

Tao is both the named and the nameless:
it is the origin of the myriad things.

The unthinking mind perceives the essence.
The thinking mind perceives the form.

The essence and the form are one, but their names are different.
This unity is called the mystery.
Mystery within mysteries,
gateway to the essence of everything.


	2.
Everyone recognises beauty as beautiful because of ugliness.
Everyone recognises virtue as virtuous because of non-virtue.

Thus, existence and non-existence are eachother's origin;
the hard and the easy create eachother,
long and short measure eachother,
high and low support eachother,
sound and silence unite eachother,
front and back follow eachother.

That is why the sage acts without action,
and teaches without speaking.
The myriad things follow him, yet he does not reject them;
he gives, but asks nothing in return.
He acts, but asks no credit.
It is because he asks no credit
	that his work does not perish.


	3.
Do not honor talent, it causes competition.
Do not gather treasure, it causes theft.
Do not focus on desires, they cause unhappiness.

The sage rules by stilling hearts and filling bellies,
weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
He teaches simplicity and freedom from desires.

Being wise, he dares not interfere.
He acts without acting,
and all things become as they should be.


	4.
Tao is empty, yet when it is used it is not exhausted.
Bottomless, indeed, it is the origin of the myriad things.

Within it the sharp edge is made blunt,
the knot is untangled,
the turmoil settles like dust.

So deep! It lasts forever.
I do not know whose child it is,
it existed before the Great Ancestor.


	5.
The universe is not biased,
it treats the all things as straw dogs.

The sage is not biased,
he treats everyone as straw dogs.

The universe is like a bellows,
it is empty, yet it is never exhausted;
the more it gives out, the more it has.

Too many words are exhausting.
It is better to remain at the centre.


	6.
The Spirit of the Valley does not die.
It is called the mysterious female.

The mysterious female's womb is the origin of heaven and earth.
It seems to go on and on.

She gives, and is never exhausted.


	7.
Heaven and earth are everlasting.
Why are they everlasting?
Because they do not exist for themselves,
they are everlasting.

Therefore, the sage keeps in the background
	yet stays in the foreground.
He lets himself go,
	yet he always remains.

Is it not because he lets himself go,
that he finds himself?


	8. [NEEDS WORK]
Superior virtue is like water,
it benefits the myriad things, yet does not struggle with them.
It dwells within all people, even the lowest.
Therefore, it is like Tao.

The best house is built on a good location,
the best heart is deep,
words are best when they are true,
rulers are best when they are just,
relationships are best when they are kind,
work is best when it is are efficient,
actions are best when they are well-timed.

The sage does not compete,
and thus remains unresisted.


	9.
It is better to stop in time,
than to overflow the cup.

The sharpened sword does not stay sharp,
a house full of gold and jade cannot be guarded,
and taking pride in one's position leads to downfall.

Heaven's Tao is to do your work,
and draw back when it is completed.


	10.
Can you keep the spirit and the body in unity?
Can you keep your breath as soft as an infant's?
Can you keep your vision clear?
Can you rule without staying compassionate?
Can you be as a bird at the gate of Heaven?
Can you penetrate the four directions and stay innocent?

Tao gives life, yet does not claim possession;
acts, yet takes no credit;
leads, but does not dominate.

This is called profound virtue.


	11.
Thirty spokes are joined in a single hub.
It is by being joined that they gain their usefulness.

Mold clay to form a bowl.
It is usefull because of its emptiness.

Cut out doors and windows to make a house.
The house is usefull because of its emptiness.

Therefore, existence becomes useful
because of non-existence.


	12.
The five colours make a person's eye blind.
The five notes make a person's ear deaf.
The five flavours make a person's pallet dull.

Too much chasing and hunting in the field makes a person's heart go mad.
Previous goods make a person on suspicious.

The sage attends to the belly, not to the eye;
he rejects the latter, and embraces the former.


	13.
Beware of honor and dishonor.
Great suffering is bound to the body. [Beautiful, but is it accurate?]

Why do we say "Beware of honor and dishonor"?
Honor causes depression,
obtaining it causes fear.

Why do we say "Great suffering is bound to the body"?
The suffering comes from knowing our body.

A man who is not tied to the body,
what trouble could he have?

One who {fulfills his duty, sees everyone as himself} can be entrusted with the world.
One who loves his duty to the world can be entrusted with heaven.


	14.
Look at it, it cannot be seen.
Listen to it, it cannot be heard.
Touch it, it is formless.

These three properties are beyond comprehension, [beyond comprehension lies the unfathomable]
they are merged and become one.

Its revealed part is not light.
Its hidden part is not dark.
An unbroken thread beyond names,
it returns to nothingness.

This is called shape without shape,
form without form.
It is beyond description.

Meet it, you can't see its face.
Follow it, you can't see its rear.

Hold on to the Tao of the ancients:
	to master the here and now,
	and know its ancient origin.

This is the clue to the continuity of Tao.


	15.
The subtle wisdom of the ancients is too profound to be understood [described?].
Truly, because they [it] cannot be understood,
we can only describe their appearance:

Cautious, oh!, as one crossing thin ice.
Vigilant, oh!, as one surrounded by danger.
Reverent, oh!, as one receiving a visitor.
Selfless, oh!, as melting ice.
Pure, oh!, as uncut wood [p'u -- leave untranslated or footnote?].
Accepting, oh!, as a valley!
Opaque, oh!, as muddy water.

Who can still the water, to gradually make it clear?
Who can rest in long-lasting action, to gradually bring it to life? [?!]

One who embraces this Tao does not wish fullness,
and for this reason remains empty.
They can grow old and not be reborn. [or: grow old and not perish / die.
                                      Avoid immortality schtick like plague!]

	16.
Reach ultimate emptiness,
maintain constant peace:
See the myriad things arise as one
and return.

Truly things flourish, each returns to its origin.
Returning to the root is called stillness,
it is called returning to one's nature.
Returning to one's nature is to be everlasting.

Knowing the eternal is enlightenment.
Not knowing the eternal brings disaster.

Knowing the eternal gives perspective;
having perspective is to be impartial;
being impartial is to be noble;
to be noble is to be one with nature;
being one with nature is to know Tao;
knowing Tao is to be eternal,
free from danger [not perishing] until the end of life.


	17.
The best ruler is hardly known by the people.
The second best is loved and praised.
The next best is feared.
The next best is despised.

Those who lack faith in others
are not trusted.

The best ruler chooses his words carefully.
When the work is done, the people say:
"We did it ourselves."


	18.
When the great Tao is abandoned,
humanity and righteousness appear, [footnote: confucianism angle]
intellectual cleverness appears,
and there is much hipocrisy.

When the harmony of family is abandoned,
dutifull love appears.
When the state is in disorder,
patriotic ministers appear.


	19.
Abandon sageliness, discard wisdom:    ["knowledge" prob. better conceptually]
the people will benefit a hundredfold.

Abandon benevolance, discard righteousness:
the people will return to devotion and love.

(Abandon learnedness, discard etiquette: [moved from v20 by JS]
the people will have no sorrow.)         ["the people will have" added by JS]

Abandon cleverness, discard profit-seeking:
theft will disappear. [alt: the people will not steal]

These three [JS: four] acts are superficial; they are not enough.
Therefore, let them have rely upon these:
	be plain,
	embrace simplicity [p'u],
	reduce ego,
	lessen desires.


	20.
How small is the difference between yes and no?
What is the difference between good and evil?
Must I also fear what others fear?
The wilderness is without end.

All the people are joyfull, joyfull
	as if enjoying a great feast,
	as if taking in the sights of spring.
I alone am unmoved! [inactive, anchored]
As one. With no concern.
Resembling a newborn baby who does not smile. [hasn't learned to smile]
Weary, weary! As if without a place to return to. [like an aimless wanderer]

All the people have too much.
I alone appear to have nothing.
My mind is foolish, indeed! Confused, confused! [My mind is like a fool's]

Worldly people are clear and bright. [very bright]
I alone am dim.
Worldly people are very clever.
I alone am dull.
Tranquil! Like the ocean.
Gales! As without a place to stop. [gales: prob. "restless" or simil.]

All the people have a purpose.
But I alone am stubborn, and seem unrefined.

I alone differ from the people,
because I cherish the nourishment of the great mother.


	21.
The highest virtue comes from following Tao.
Tao is entirely vague, entirely elusive.  [huang, hu]

Elusive! Vague! Its centre has form.      [hu, huang]
Vague! Elusive! Its centre has substance. [huang, hu]
Hidden! Obscure! Its centre has essence.  [yao, ming]

Its essence is quite real, its centre has evidence.
From ancient times until now, its name has not departed.
In it we see the origin of all things.
How do know that the origin is such?
Because of this. [Because of Tao]


	22.
Yield and become whole.
Bend and become straight.
Keep empty and become filled.
Wear out and become renewed.
Have little and receive.
Have much and become confused.

The sage embraces unity,
	and becomes a model to the world.
He does not display himself,
	and therefore shines.
He does not consider himself righteous,
	and therefore is distinguished.
He does not boast,
	and therefore has merit. [success]
He does not brag,
	and therefore endures.

Because he does not contend,
	the world cannot contend with him.

The ancients said "Bend and be perfect".
Are those empty words?
Truly, perfection [enlightenment?] comes from returning to Tao. [wordy, wordy, wordy]


	23.
To say little is nature's way.
Therefore a violent wind does not outlast dawn,
and violent rain does not outlast the day.
What causes these? Heaven and earth.

Heaven and earth cannot last forever --
how, then, can man?

Therefore, one who follows his works with Tao,
Tao will become one with him,
Te will become one with him. [ugh!]

One who identifies with loss is lost.
One who identifies with Tao,
	Tao also happily welcomes him.
One who identifies with Te,
Te also happily welcomes him.

One who identifies with loss,
	loss happily welcomes him.
One who has no faith,
	indeed will not receive faith.


	24.
On tiptoes, one cannot stand steady.
Taking long strides, one cannot walk far.
Displaying one's self, one cannot be seen.
Being self-righteous, one cannot be prominent.
Approving of one's self, one is without merit.
Praising one's self, one cannot endure.

To those who know Tao, this is excess, wasteful actions;
all things loathe them.
Therefore, one who knows Tao does not dwell.


	25.
There is a state of chaos, complete; [chaos == mystery?; complete ~= self-sufficient, a single whole, ostlt]
it was born before Heaven and Earth.
Tranquil! / Formless! It stands alone, unchanging.
Reaching everywhere, without being exhausted. [everpresent and neverending]
It {can be called,is} the mother of the Universe.

I do not know its name,
but I call it Tao.
If I am forced to describe it,
	I call it Great.

Great means continuing. [functioning everywhere]
Continuing means far-reaching.
Far-reaching means [ever-]returning. [this stanza: it flows everywhere / and returns to its source?]

From great Tao:
	great Heaven,
	great Earth,
	great men. [men = wang, lit. "king(s)"]

In the universe, there are four great things,
	man is one of them. [dito]

Man follows Earth.
Earth follows Heaven.
	Heaven follows Tao.
Tao follows itself.


	26.
Weight is the root of lightness.
Stillness is the master of motion. [motion = tsao, "restlessness"]
Therefore, The Sage travels all day,
	and keeps his eyes on his heavily-laden carts.
Though he passes magnificent spectacles,
he stays calm, indifferent.

Is the ruler of a great country lighthearted before the people?
To be lighthearted is to lose one's root.
To act rashly is to lose command.


	27.
A good traveller leaves no traces. [good works]
A good speaker reveals no grounds for blame.
A good plan uses no calculation. [counting bambooslips]
A good door needs neither bolt nor key, yet no-one can open it.
A good knot needs no cord, yet none can loosen it.

Thus, The Sage saves all and rejects none,
and cares for all things.
Not rejecting things is called following the light.

Hence, the good person teaches the bad person,
and the bad person is the good person's raw material.
If the teacher is not honored or the raw material not cared for,
	even the very clever will be greatly confused. [lost]
This is called the essential mystery.


	28.
To know one's masculinity and keep one's femininity
	is to be the valley of the world. [ch'i:150]
To be the valley of the world is eternal, never-departing Te,
	to be as a newborn again.
To know one's light and keep one's darkness
	is to act as the world's instrument.
To act as the world's instrument is eternal, never-failing Te,
	to return to limitlessness.
To know one's honor and keep one's humility
	is to be the valley of the world. [ku:150 -- empty?]
Being the valley of the world is eternal Te,
	to return to simplicity. [p'u']
When simplicity is broken, it becomes things. [?]
The Sage uses them, and officers endure.      [?]
Thus great rulers do no harm.


	29.
To control the world by force,
I know it cannot succeed.
The world is a sacred vessel, it cannot be changed! [impl.: Tao's sacred vessel]
Trying to change it is to ruin it.
Trying to hold it is to lose it,
	for some things lead and others follow.
Some exhale, some inhale. [alt. warm/cold]
Some are strong, some are weak.
Some break, some bend. [bend: lit. give in]

Therefore, The Sage abandons pleasure, abandons extravagance, abandons arrogance.


	30.
Guide rulers with Tao:
	not to dominate the world with force. [alt. violence]
Actions usually return. [i.e.: violence revisited on ruler]

Where the army stops, thorny bushes grow.
After a great war, there is always famine.
A good commander achieves his purpose, and then stops;
he dares not thereby intimidate. [clunky. fig. m.: doesn't take [undue] advantage of weakness/victory]

Attain your purpose, and do not be arrogant.
Attain your purpose, and do not boast.
Attain your purpose, and do not take pride [in it].
Attain your purpose, and be reluctant. [alt. do not profit [from it]]
Attain your purpose, without force.

Things flourish, then decay.                  [using force to gain (unnatural) development is to end prematurely]
This is called not following Tao.             [using force]
Not following Tao is to come to an early end.


	31.
Even the best soldier's tools are of evil, [??? - I think it's close; imaginative, if nothing else]
all creatures detest them.
Therefore one who follows Tao avoids them.

A wise man favors the left when at home, [his feminine side]
and favors the right at war.             [his masculine side]
Weapons are tools of evil,
they are not the wise man's tools;
therefore, he uses them only when it is unavoidable,
calmly, quietly, in the best way. [the Best Way; cf. the Right Thing]
He takes no delight in victory.

Only one who rejoices in slaughter enjoys victory.
One who rejoices in slaughter can never succeed in the world. [succeed ~= enlightenment]

Celebrations favor the left. [the feminine]
Funerals favor the right.    [the masculine]

The second in command stands to the left.
The general stands to the right,
like at a funeral.

After slaughter, weep with sorrow and grief.
Victory must be celebrated like a funeral.


	32.
Tao has never had a name.
Though simple [p'u] and small, no-one in the world can be its master!
If rulers [a ruler] were to hold it, the myriad things would honor [follow] them,
heaven and earth would unite and sweet rain would fall,
	without being ordered, people would naturally be at peace. [or: be peaceful, in harmony]

When things are divided and named, [[it's only] when things are divided, ]
differences come in to existence.  [[that] names are needed.]

Know when to stop.
Knowing when to stop is to be free from danger.
Tao is in the world, [flows through the world]
just as streams in [run in] great rivers and seas.


	33.
Knowing others is to be intelligent. [learnèd alt. wise]
Knowing one's self is to be enlightened.

To conquer others is to be strong.
To conquer one's self is to be mighty. [powerful]

To know when you have enough is to be rich.

To act with force is to succeed.
To stay in one place is to endure,
to die yet not perish,
	to live long. [live forever, but I'd like to avoid literal immortality references if I can]


	34.
The great Tao flows everywhere, and reaches in all directions.
The myriad things rely upon it, it gives life and holds nothing back.
It does its work, and wants no credit.
It clothes and nourishes the myriad things yet does not want to be their master.
Eternal, without desires, it can be considered small.
	The myriad things return to it as their home,
		but it does not claim to be their ruler.
	It can be called great.
	Because it does not wish to be great,
it becomes great.


	35.
Take hold of the great form,
	[let] all things go on.
[Let all things] go on and do not harm,
	contentment, peace in abundance [will follow].

Music and food make travelers stop.
Tao's words are without taste, it is without taste.
It cannot be seen.
It cannot be heard.
It is inexhaustible.


	36.
What you would shrink must first expand.
What you would weaken must first be strong.
What you would cast down must first be raised.
What you would take must first be given.

This is called the mystery of enlightenment.
Flexible and weak overcome hard and strong.

Fish should not be taken from deep water.
An empire's best weapons should be hidden.


	37.
The Tao does not act, yet nothing remains undone.
If rulers could abide by it, all things would naturally transform.
If desires arise, he restrains them with the simplicity of the nameless [p'u]
The nameless is without desire;
Because it has no desires, the world will by itself be at peace.

[stl: 1,2:same, 3ff: If he is like the uncarved block, without desires,
the world (or kingdom) will become at peace by itself]




	38.
A person of superior virtue | {is not conscious of, does not display} his virtue;
	One of inferior virtue | never {forgets, lets go of} his virtue,
		and thus has no virtue.
			A person of superior virtue acts without effort or aim.
A person of inferior virtue acts {self-consciously, with effort}.
Superior {benevolence, compassion} acts without action [ulterior motive],
superior virtue acts without action [ditto].
A person of superior {ritual, propriety} acts,
but (when) {no one, people do not} respond(s),
he forces it on them.
Therefore: when Tao is lost, there is Te.
When Te is lost, there {is, are rules of} benevolence.
When benevolence is lost, there is morality.
When morality is lost, there is ritual [propriety].
Truly, in ritual, loyalty and faith are {thinned, merely superficial},
	and disorder begins.
Knowing only the ornaments of Tao is the beginning of folly.
Therefore, {a, the} great master [sage?] remains at the centre,
	and does not dwell on the exterior;
he stays with the fruit, not the flower.
Therefore he rejects the latter, and takes hold of the former.


	39.
In ancient times all was one [or: the ancients achieved unity] (with Tao).
When heaven is one (with Tao), it is clear.
When earth is one (with Tao), it is firm.
When the spirit is one (with Tao), it is divine [or: when the mind is one (with Tao), it is powerful]
When the valley [or: the empty] is one (with Tao), it is full.
When the ten thousand things are one (with Tao), they grow.
When the rulers one (with Tao), the empire is pure.
All these things come from unity [far-fetched].
If heaven were always clear, it would crack. [as per MWT. others have: if heaven were *not* clear]
If the earth were always firm, it would shake.
If spirits were always "divine", they would wither.
If the valley were always full, it would end.
If the ten thousand things did not grow, they would die.
If rulers were not noble, they would fall.
Thus: honor is rooted in humility.
Therefore, rulers call themselves orphans, widowers, unworthy.
Is it not because they have their root in commoners?
Thus: the highest plane needs no praise.
It does not jingle like jade,
or rumble like the rocks.


	40.
Tao's movement is to return.
Tao's method [way] is softness.
The earth, all ten thousand things come from existence.
Existence comes from non-existence.


	41.
A superior student hears of Tao, and studies it diligently.
A mediochre student hears of Tao, and finds it hard to believe.
	An inferior student hears of Tao, and laughs out loud.
If he did not laugh, it wouldn't be Tao.
Therefore it is said:
Tao is bright but seems dark;
Following Tao
seems like returning; Tao is easy but seems difficult.
The highest Te seems empty.
The greatest clarity seems obscure.
Te is large but seems insufficient.
Te is solid but seems unsteady.
Te is stable but seems uncertain.
The greatest square has no corners.
The greatest vessel is not yet complete. [or: gv takes long to fill; or: great talent takes long to mature]
The greatest music is faint.
The greatest form is without form.
Tao is hidden and without name.
Exactly therefore it nourishes and brings to perfection (all things).


	42.
Tao begets one.
One begets two.
Two begets three.
Three begets the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things carry Yin and embrace Yang.
Merging with Chi produces harmony. [impl.: Yin + Yang = Chi]
It is because people detest orphans, widowers, the unworthy that great rulers give themselves those names.
Thus things gain by losing.
What others teach, I also teach:
Tyrants do not die a natural death.
I will make this the basis of my teaching.


	67.
All the world says my Tao is a small thing.
It is because it is unlike anything that it seems so small.
Had it been like anything, it would have vanished long ago.

I have three treasures that I keep and cherish:
The first is called compassion,
The second is called moderation,
and the third is called humility.

Compassion leads to bravery,
moderation leads to generosity,
and humility leads to leadership.

Bravery without compassion,
generosity without moderation,
or leadership without humility
is certain doom.

Those who fight with compassion shall win;
their defense will be impenetrable,
and heaven will protect them with its love.


	81.
True words are not beautiful.
Beautiful words are not true.
The good do not argue.
Those who argue are not good.
The wise are not learned.
The learned are not wise.

The Sage does not hoard:
the more he does for others, the more he receives;
the more he gives to others, the richer he grows.

Heaven's Tao is to benefit and not harm.
The Sage's Tao is to act and not compete.