| 1 |
江海之所以能為百谷王者，以其善下之， |
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage
and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill
in being lower
than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them
all.
|
That rivers and oceans can of the hundred valleys be kings is due to their excelling
in lowliness. Thus they can of the hundred valleys
be the kings.
|
The reason rivers and seas are called the kings of the valley is because they
keep below them. |
| 2 |
故能為百谷王。是以聖人欲上民
，必以言下之﹔欲先民，必以身后之。 |
So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his
words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person behind
them.
|
Therefore the holy man, when anxious to be above the people, must in his words
keep underneath them. When anxious to lead the people,
he must with his person keep behind them.
|
Therefore the wise man desiring to be above his people must in his demeanor keep
below them; wishing to benefit his people, he must
ever keep himself out of sight.
|
| 3 |
是以聖人處上而民不重，處前而民
不害。 |
In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor
though he has his place before them, do they feel
it an
injury to them.
|
Therefore the holy man dwells above, but the people are not burdened. He is
ahead, but the people suffer no harm.
|
The wise man dwells above, yet the people do not feel the burden; he is the leader
and the people suffer no harm. Therefore the world
rejoices to exalt him and never wearies of him.
|
| 4 |
是以天下樂推而不厭。以其不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。 |
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him. Because
he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive
with him. |
Therefore the world rejoices in exalting him and does not tire. Because he strives
not, no one in the world will strive with him. |
Because he will not quarrel with anyone, no one can quarrel with him. |
