Chapter 38

上德不德

Chapter Translation

上shàng德dé不bù德dé，

是shì以yǐ有yǒu德dé；

下xià德dé不bù失shī德dé，

是shì以yǐ无wú德dé。

上shàng德dé无wú为wéi而ér无wú以yǐ为wéi；

下xià德dé无wú为wéi而ér有yǒu以yǐ为wéi。

上shàng仁rén为wéi之zhī而ér无wú以yǐ为wéi；

上shàng义yì为wéi之zhī而ér有yǒu以yǐ为wéi。

上shàng礼lǐ为wéi之zhī而ér莫mò之zhī应yìng，

则zé攘rǎng臂bì而ér扔rēng之zhī。

故gù失shī道dào而ér后hòu德dé，

失shī德dé而ér后hòu仁rén，

失shī仁rén而ér后hòu义yì，

失shī义yì而ér后hòu礼lǐ。

夫fū礼lǐ者zhě，

忠zhōng信xìn之zhī薄báo，

而ér乱luàn之zhī首shǒu。

前qián识shí者zhě，

道dào之zhī华huá，

而ér愚yú之zhī始shǐ。

是shì以yǐ大dà丈zhàng夫fū处chǔ其qí厚hòu，

不bù居jū其qí薄báo；

处chǔ其qí实shí，

不bù居jū其qí华huá。

The highest virtue (de) is without virtue, hence it has virtue. The lowest virtue never deviates from virtue, hence it lacks virtue. The highest virtue does not act (wuwei) and has no reason to act; the lowest virtue acts and has reason to act. The highest ren acts without any reason to act. The highest right (yi) acts and has reason to act. The highest li acts, and if no persons respond, rolls up its sleeves and twists their arms. Hence, only after the Dao is lost is there virtue; only after virtue is lost is there ren; only after ren is lost is there right; only after right is lost is there li. Li is the thinning of loyalty and faithfulness, when chaos first raises its head. Foreknowledge is the blossom of the Dao, when ignorance first begins. Therefore, the great man dwells in the thick, not in the thin; abides in the fruit, not in the blossom. Thus he discards the one and grasps the other.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.