Dao creates them, De raises them, Things shape them, Circumstances complete them. Thus among the ten thousand creatures, There are none who do not respect Dao and honor De. Respect of Dao, Honor of De – Now : there is no one who commands this, Yet it is always naturally so. Therefore : Dao creates them, De raises them. Leads them, nourishes them, Shelters them, heals them, Supports them, protects them. Creating but not possessing, Acting but not concerned with the results, Leading yet not governing – This is called deep and mysterious De. Fifty two The world had a beginning, Which can be considered the mother of the world. Once you have realized its mother, You thus know her children. Once you know her children, Return to and maintain their mother. When the self disappears, there can be no danger. Block your senses, close your gateway – All your life you will not struggle. Open your senses, be successful in your duties – All your life you will not have relief. Seeing the insignificant speaks of insight. Maintaining softness speaks of strength. Use your brightness to return to your insight. Do not lose your self in misfortune. This is called practicing the ever-constant. Fifty five He who embodies the substance of De Can be compared to a newborn child : Wasps, scorpions, snakes, and serpents do not sting him, Fierce beasts do not seize him, Birds of prey do not claw him. His bones are weak, his muscles are soft, yet his grasp is firm and strong. He has not yet known the union of female and male, yet his penis rises. He has the utmost essence, indeed! He cries the entire day yet does not get hoarse. He has the utmost harmony, indeed! Knowing harmony speaks of the ever-constant. Knowing the ever-constant speaks of insight. Benefitting life speaks of good fortune. Heart/mind making Qi speaks of strength. When creatures are robust but old, We call them “not Dao”. That which is “not Dao” has an early finish. Fifty six He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know. Block your senses, close your gateway. Blunt your sharpness, Loosen your tangles, Soften your brightness, Be the same as the dust of the world. This is called a deep and mysterious sameness. Therefore : you can not gain it and be friendly, Can not gain it and be unfriendly, Can not gain it and benefit, Can not gain it and cause harm, Can not gain it and have high rank, Can not gain it and be lowly. Therefore you become valuable to the world. LATE Three Not honoring those who are esteemable Ensures that the citizens do not strive. Not valuing rare goods Ensures that the citizens do not act like thieves. Not showing that which can be desired