Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Verse 32: The Way has no name.

道常無名。
The Constant Way has no name.
樸雖小天下莫能臣也。
The Simple Essence might be small, but there is nothing in the world that can command it.
侯王若能守之,
If kings and courtiers are able to protect it,
萬物將自賓。
the ten-thousand things will naturally become their guests.
天地相合以降甘露,
Heaven and Earth are in mutual accord; sweet dew falls.
民莫之令而自均。
The people, without any orders, will treat one another fairly.
始制有名,
To start regulating there are names,
名亦既有,
Once names appear,
夫亦將知止,
People must know when to stop.
知止可以不殆。
By knowing restraint one can avoid peril.
譬道之在天下,
The Way is to the world
猶川谷之於江海。
as streams are to rivers and seas.

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