1. heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. the sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
2. may not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?
'tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
'tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
your inner being guard, and keep it free.
天地不仁,以万物為芻狗;圣人不仁,以百姓為芻狗。
天地之間,其猶橐龠乎?虛而不屈,動而愈出。
多言數窮,不如守中。
【译文】
天地无所谓仁爱之心,把万物都当作"刍狗"来看待;圣人也不执求仁爱之心,把百姓也当作"刍狗"来看待。天地之间,不正像是气囊或空管那样的大空泡吗?它虽空虚但却不会塌缩,运行之中生化不息。孜孜于仗名立言往往行不通,不如持守空虚而顺任自然。