Chapter 79
和大怨
和大怨，
必有馀怨；
报怨以德，
安可以为善？
是以圣人执左契，
而不责于人。
有德司契，
无德司彻。
天道无亲，
常与善人。
a> When making peace between disputants, there is always some remaining sense of dispute – how can this constitute a good act?
b> Therefore, the sage keeps hold of the creditor’s tally but never calls in the debts others owe him. c> One with virtue (de) oversees the tally, one without virtue oversees the payment.
d> The dao of Tian has no favorites; it always shifts to the good person.
A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.
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