Verse 39: One and rulers

昔之得一者。
In the past, those who had One:
天得一以清。
The sky had One and was clear.
地得一以寧。
The earth had One and was settled.
神得一以靈。
The spirits had One and were responsive.
谷得一以盈。
The valley had One and was filled.
萬物得一以生。
The 10,000 things had One and were born.
侯王得一以為天下貞。
The rulers had One and were examples to the world.
其致之。
So these were caused.
天無以清將恐裂。
The sky ,without That which clears it, will horrendously split
地無以寧將恐廢。
The earth, without That which calms it, will horrendously decay
神無以靈將恐歇。
The spirits ,without That which makes them responsive, will horrendously expire
谷無以盈將恐竭。
The valley, without That which fills it, will horrendously run dry
萬物無以生將恐滅。
The 10,000 things, without That which births it, will be horrendously extinguished
侯王無以貞將恐蹶。
The rulers, without That which makes them an example, will be trampled upon.
故貴以賤為本，
Hence the refined is based on the unrefined.
高以下為基。
the high is built upon the low.
是以侯王自稱孤、寡、不穀。
So the rulers claim themselves to be powerless, small and unworthy
此非以賤為本邪﹖
Is such an action, by not being based on the unrefined, evil?
非乎。
We need not even ask.
至譽無譽。
The greatest honor is no honor.
不欲琭琭如玉
Not wanting to shine like jade
珞珞如石。
or sparking like jewels.