| 1 |
道生之，德畜之，物形之，勢成之。是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。 |
All things are produced
by the Dao, and nourished by its
outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the
nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of
their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the Dao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
|
Reason quickens all
creatures. Virtue feeds them. Reality shapes them.
The forces complete them. Therefore among the ten thousand
things there is none that does not esteem Reason and
honor virtue. |
Tao gives life
to all creatures; de [teh] feeds them; materiality shapes
them; energy completes them. Therefore among all
things there is none that does not honor Dao and
esteem de [teh].
|
| 2 |
道之尊，
德之貴，夫莫之命而常自然。 |
This honouring
of the Dao and exalting of its operation is not the
result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.
|
Since the esteem
of Reason and the honoring of virtue is by no one
commanded, it is forever spontaneous.
|
Honor for Dao
and esteem for de [teh] is never compelled, it is always
spontaneous.
|
| 3 |
故道生之，德畜之﹔長之育之﹔成之熟之﹔ 養之覆之。 |
Thus it is that
the Dao produces (all things), nourishes them,
brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures them,
maintains them, and overspreads them.
|
Therefore it is
said that Reason quickens all creatures, while virtue
feeds them, raises them, nurtures them, completes
them, matures them, rears them, and protects them.
|
Therefore Dao
gives life to them, but de [teh] nurses them, raises them,
nurtures, completes, matures, rears, protects them.
|
| 4 |
生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰。是謂玄德。 |
It produces them and
makes no claim to the possession of them; it
carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in doing
so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them;--this is
called its mysterious operation. |
To quicken but not to
own, to make but not to claim, to raise but not to
rule, this is called profound virtue. |
Tao gives life to them
but makes no claim of ownership; de [teh] forms them but
makes no claim upon them, raises them but does not
rule them. This is profound vitality (de [teh]). |
