| |
Original |
Legge's
Translation |
Susuki's
Translation |
Goddard's
Translation |
| 1 |
使我介然有知，行于大道，唯施是畏。 |
If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position
to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Dao,
what I should
be most afraid of would be a boastful display.
|
If I have ever so little knowledge, I shall walk in the great Reason. It is but
expansion that I must fear.
|
Even if one has but a little knowledge he can walk in the ways of the great Dao;
it is only self-assertion that one need fear.
|
| 2 |
大道甚夷，而人好徑。 |
The great Dao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the
by-ways.
|
The great Reason is very plain, but people are fond of by-paths.
|
The great Dao (Way) is very plain, but people prefer the bypaths.
|
| 3 |
朝甚除，田
甚蕪，倉甚虛﹔ |
Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their
fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. |
When the palace is very splendid, the fields are very weedy and granaries very
empty.
|
When the palace is very splendid, the fields are likely to be very weedy, and
the granaries empty.
|
| 4 |
服文采，帶利劍，厭飲食，財貨有餘﹔ |
They
shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their
girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a
superabundance of property and wealth;--such (princes) may be called robbers
and boasters. |
To wear ornaments and gay clothes, to carry sharp swords, to be excessive in
drinking and eating, to have a redundance of costly
articles, this is the pride of robbers.
|
To wear ornaments and gay colors, to carry sharp swords, to be excessive in eating
and drinking, and to have wealth and treasure in abundance
is to know the pride of robbers. |
| 5 |
是為盜夸。非道也
哉！ |
This is contrary to the Dao surely! |
Surely, this is un-Reason. |
This is contrary to Dao. |
