found no strain。
Loving all men； rulers need no cleverness。
Opening and closing the gate of heaven；
cannot go without female。
Understanding all things；
can you still do nothing？
Creates； maintains。
Bearing yet not possessing；
Working yet not taking credit；
Leading yet not dominating；
The Primal Virtue。
11
Thirty spokes share a wheel hub；
it is the （empty） space （not spokes； nor hub） makes wheel useful。
Shape clay into a vessel；
It is the empty space within； makes it useful。
Cut doors and windows for a room；
It is the holes； make a room a room。
Therefore； what is there defines its form；
what is not there defines its use。
12
The five colors blind the eyes。
The five tones deafen the ears。
The five flavors dull the taste。
Racing and hunting madden the mind。
Therefore； sages emphasize health； not pleasure。
Choose this； let go of that。
13
Be alert to be a love pet （or be honored）； as if troubles nearby。
What it means by 〃Be alert to be a love pet？〃
Love pet is lowly。
Be one； soon becomes not。
Be not one； despaired。
So； be alert to be a love pet or be honored。
What it means 〃Honor； troubles nearby？〃
We have troubles； being have a body。
Without a body； how could there be misfortune？
Give yourself to mankind； it houses you。
Love mankind； it provides you。
14
Look； yet cannot be seen it is beyond form。
Listen； yet cannot be heard it is beyond sound。
Grasp； yet cannot be held it is intangible。
These three are indefinable； they are one。
Above it； not bright；
below it； not dark；
an unbroken thread； beyond description；
returns to nothingness；
as the form of formless；
as the image of imageless；
It is called indefinable。
Face it； there is no beginning。
Follow it； there is no end。
Behold the ancient Tao； manage the present。
Knowing the beginning； the essence of Tao。
15
The ancient masters knew； the subtle； the mysterious； the profound；the all encompass as：
The unfathomable。
For being unfathomable； only the appearance can be described。
Hesitatingly； as crossing a winter stream。
Watchfully； as aware of danger。
Seriously； as attending a summit meeting。
Yielding； like ice about to melt。
Simple； like pooh （see note）
Hollow； like caves。
Mixed； as opaque。
Quietly waiting until opaque becomes clear。
Remain still until the moment of action。
Who cultivates this Tao will not over flow （or ejaculate）。
Because of not over flowing； he can shed old and generate new。
16
Reach the emptiness。
Keep the stillness。
Everything rises and falls； watch this cycle。
Grow and flourish； return with seeds。
Returning seeds is stillness （no mutation）； is self…similarity。
Self…similarity is the Way （invariance）。
Knowing the Way is insight。
Not knowing the Way leads to disaster。
Knowing the Way； encompasses。
Being encompass； could be just。
Being just； could be a ruler。
Being a ruler； could benefit the world the same as the Tien does。
Tien is Tao。 The Tao is eternal。
Though the body dies； the spirit lives forever more。
17
The highest； is known by 。。。
The next； known by his love。
The next； known by his fierceness。
Then； known by his rudeness。
He who does not trust； will not be trusted。
Actions； deeds； performed； no word can describe； just fine。
18
Lost the great Tao； Jen （kindness） and iL （morality） arise。
The rise of wisdom and intelligence； cheating begins。
Family quarrels； filial piety and devotion arise。
Country in turmoil； loyalty appears。
19
Despise sages； renounce wisdom；
it will be a hundred times better for everyone。
Despise kindness； renounce morality；
men will rediscover filial piety and love。
Despise ingenuity； renounce profit；
bandits and thieves will disappear。
As rules； these three are not sufficient。
The essence：
see the simplicity；
hold one's true nature；
cast off selfishness；
and reduce desire。
20
Get ride of knowledge； no more trouble。
What is the difference between yes and no？
What is the difference between good and evil？
What others fear； Must I fear！
People are busy； as enjoying the animal sacrificial feast；
as going to spring outing。
I alone； drifting； not knowing where I am；
as a newborn before learns to smile； without a place to go。
Others have more than they need； I alone are lost； a naive。
Others are clear and bright； I alone； dim and weak。
Others are sharp and clever； I alone； alone； alone；
as drifting in the sea；
carrying by the wind to 。。。
Others knew what to do；
I alone； stupid and lowly。
I alone； different from others； value the nourishment from Mother。
21
Holy Virtue follows Tao and Tao alone。
The Tao； elusive and intangible；
yet within has sign；
yet within has things；
dim and dark； yet within has essence。
The essence is very real； can be verified。
From the beginning til now； its name as Nameless。
Use it to view everything。
How do I know the states of everything？
Use this。
22
Yield； thus preserve。
Can be bent； can then be straightened。
Being hollow； can then be filled。
Shedding makes new。
Being little； can then have room to grow。
Too much； easily be confused。
Therefore； sages embrace the one； as an example to all。
Not putting on a display； thus are seen。
Not justifying themselves； thus are distinguished。
Not boasting； thus receive recognition。
Not bragging； thus never falter。
Not seeking for all the above；
so； no one can compete with them。
The ancients say； 〃Yield thus preserve；〃 are not empty words。
Be preserving； all things will come to you。
23
An analogy about Nature。
High winds do not last all morning。
Heavy rain does not last all day。
Who are doing these （wind and rain）？ Heaven and Earth。
If heaven and earth cannot make things eternal；
how is it possible for man？
He who follows the Tao； same as Tao。
He who is virtuous； same as virtue。
He who loses the way； got lost。
At one with the Tao； Tao welcomes you。
At one with Virtue； Virtue follows you。
At one with lost； loss always accompany you。
The loss is experienced willingly。
He who does not trust； will not be trusted。
24
Stands on tiptoe； is not steady。
Strides； cannot maintain the pace。
Self display； cannot attract audiences。
Self justifying； will not be distinguished。
Self boasting； will not gain respect。
Self bragging； will not endure。
The above are baggages； even things （and animals） despise them。
Followers of the Tao avoid them。
25
Something mysteriously formed；
before heaven and earth；
Silently； intangibly； alone and unchanging；
repeating； permeating eternally；
mother of everything。
I do not know its name。
Call it Tao； or Great。
Great means flows；
it flows far；
far and return。
Therefore； Tao is great；
Heaven is great；
Earth is great；
Kings are also great。
the four great powers of the universe。
King is one of them。
Man follows the earth。
Earth follows heaven。
Heaven follows the Taos。
The Taos follows the Tao。
26
The heavy roots （stabilizes） the light；
The still masters the jumpy。
Thus； the sage； traveling all days；
not lose sight of baggage。
Though there are beautiful things around；
he is unattracted and calm。
Why should the lord of a big country act lightly in public？
To be light is to lose one's root。
To be jumpy is to lose kingly dignity。
27
A good traveler leaves no tracks。
A good speaker makes no slips。
A good reckoner needs no tally。
A good door （tightly fit） needs no lock； yet no one can open it。
Good tie requires no knots； yet no one can loosen it。
Thus； the sages value all men； no one abandoned；
value all things； nothing abandoned。
This is called 〃following the wisdom light。〃
Thus； who value a man value the man； not what he knows。
Who does not value the man； value his talent。
If not respect what he knows； not love his talent；
even a genius will be wasted （confused）。
This is the crux of mystery （of developing people's talent）。
28
Be a man； learn woman's way； as the lake valley of the universe。
Being the lake valley of the universe； no virtue （or jing； semen） escape；
returning as a new born。
For the white； know it has black； as the law to the world。
Being an law to the world； no virtue disperse；
returning to the infinite。
Honor； know it could be the source of humility；
be the valley of the universe。
Being the valley of the universe；
all virtues converge；
returning to pooh （the original）。
When the pooh lost； it becomes things；
and sages set up systems to manage them。
However； the true sage will not divide （the original）。
29
Can you alter the universe？
I don't think so。
The universe is sacred （invariant； yet ever flowing）；
cannot be altered。
Try to alter； you fail。
Try to hold on； you lost it。
Things （phenomena）； could be moving ahead； following behind；
as hard； as soft； as strong； as weak。
Thus； the sages avoid extremes； excesses； and complacency。
30
Advise a ruler with Tao；
Not use military to conquer the world。
For it would only cause resistance。
The terrain army passes is always filled with thorned bushes。
After war； famine will come。
For those who know the right way to conquer；
never use force。
After the conquer；
never glory in them；
never boast；
never be proud。
Even the conquer is necessary；
never force it。
Potency （strength）