Chapter 39

昔之得一者：

Chapter Translation

昔xī之zhī得dé一yī者zhě：

天tiān得dé一yī以yǐ清qīng；

地dì得dé一yī以yǐ宁níng；

神shén得dé一yī以yǐ灵líng；

谷gǔ得dé一yī以yǐ盈yíng；

万wàn物wù得dé一yī以yǐ生shēng；

侯hóu王wáng得dé一yī以yǐ为wéi天tiān下xià正zhèng。

其qí致zhì之zhī也yě，

天tiān无wú以yǐ清qīng，

将jiāng恐kǒng裂liè；

地dì无wú以yǐ宁níng，

将jiāng恐kǒng废fèi；

神shén无wú以yǐ灵líng，

将jiāng恐kǒng歇xiē；

谷gǔ无wú以yǐ盈yíng，

将jiāng恐kǒng竭jié；

万wàn物wù无wú以yǐ生shēng，

将jiāng恐kǒng灭miè；

侯hóu王wáng无wú以yǐ贞zhēn，

将jiāng恐kǒng蹶jué。

故gù贵guì以yǐ贱jiàn为wéi本běn，

高gāo以yǐ下xià为wéi基jī。

是shì以yǐ侯hóu王wáng自zì称chēng孤gū、寡guǎ、不bù谷gǔ。

此cǐ非fēi以yǐ贱jiàn为wéi本běn邪yé？

非fēi乎hū？

故gù致zhì誉yù无wú誉yù。

是shì故gù不bù欲yù琭lù琭lù如rú玉yù，

珞luò珞luò如rú石shí。

a> Those of old that gained the One: The sky (tian) gained the One and was thus clear; Earth gained the One and was thus calm; The spirits gained the One and were thus potent; The valley gained the One and was this full; The things of the world gained the One and were thus born; Kings and lords gained the One and were models to the world – This is what the One brought about.

Without what makes it clear, the sky would likely split; Without what makes it calm, the earth would likely collapse; Without what makes them potent, the spirits would likely dissipate; Without what makes it full, the valley would likely run dry; Without what gives them birth, the world of things would likely be extinguished; Without what makes them honored, kings and lords will likely topple.

b> Therefore, the honored takes the lowly as root; high takes low as foundation. For this reason, kings and lords refer to themselves as ‘the orphan’, ‘the widow’, ‘the unemployed’ – does this take the lowly as the root or does it not?

Hence the utmost renown is to be unknown. Have no wish be glossy like jades, rather be hard like stones.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.