Verse 38: Way, Virtue, Mercy, Righteousness, Ritual

上德不德是以有德。
Superior virtue is unaware of "virtue", and therefore has virtue.
下德不失德是以無德。
Inferior virtue worries about loss of virtue, and therefore has no virtue.
上德無為而無以為。
Superior virtue does non-action not for the sake of doing so.
下德無為而有以為。
Inferior virtue does non-action for the sake of doing so.
上仁為之而無以為。
Superior mercy acts thus not for the sake of doing so.
上義為之而有以為。
Superior righteousness acts thus for the sake of doing so.
上禮為之而莫之以應，
Superior rituals act thus but no one responds
則攘臂而扔之。
Leading to these things being forced upon people.
故失道而後德。
Hence, a decline in the Way leads to the rise of virtue.
失德而後仁。
A decline in virtue leads to a rise in mercy.
失仁而後義。
A decline in mercy leads to a rise in righteousness.
失義而後禮。
A decline in righteousness leads to a rise in rituals.
夫禮者忠信之薄而亂之首。
People of rituals faithfully believe in the shallow, starting chaos.
前識者，道之華而愚之始。
Forecasters speak fancifully, initiating stupidity.
是以大丈夫，
So the truely Big people
處其厚，不居其薄。
Live with substance and avoid the shallow
處其實，不居其華。
Live with the concrete and avoid the fanciful.
故去彼取此。
Hence, leaving that is taking this.