| 1 |
曲則全，枉則直，窪則盈，敝則新，少則多，多則惑。是以聖人抱一為天
下式。不自見，故明﹔ |
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty,
full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few
gets them; he
whose (desires) are many goes astray.
|
"The crooked shall be straight,
Crushed ones recuperate,
The empty find their fill.
The worn with strength shall thrill;
Who little have receive,
And who have much will grieve."
|
At that time the deficient will be made perfect; the distorted will be straightened;
the empty will be filled; the worn out will be renewed;
those having little will obtain and those having much
will be overcome. |
| 2 |
不自是，故彰﹔不自伐，故有功﹔不自矜，故長。夫唯不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。
|
Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of
humility), and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self-
display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore
he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is
acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires
superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that
therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.
|
Therefore the holy man embraces unity and becomes for all the world a model.
Not self-displaying he is enlightened; Not self -approving
he is distinguished; Not self-asserting he acquires
merit; Not self-seeking he gaineth life. Since he
does not quarrel, therefore no one in the world can
quarrel with him.
|
Therefore the wise man, embracing unity as he does, will become the world's model.
Not pushing himself forward he will become enlightened;
not asserting himself he will become distinguished;
not boasting of himself he will acquire merit; not
approving himself he will endure. Forasmuch as he
will not quarrel, the world will not quarrel with
him.
|
| 3 |
古之所謂「曲則全」者，豈虛言哉！誠全
而歸之。 |
That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete' was
not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under it.
|
The saying of the ancients: "The crooked shall be straight," is it in any way vainly spoken? Verily, they will be straightened and return
home. |
Is the old saying, "The crooked shall be made straight," a false saying? Indeed, no! They will be perfected and return rejoicing. |
