1. the skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. in the same way the sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. this is called 'hiding the light of his procedure.'

2. therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. if the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. this is called 'the utmost degree of mystery.'

善行，无辙迹；

善言，无瑕谪；

善计，不用筹策；

善闭，无关楗而不可开；

善结，无绳约而不可解。

是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；

常善救物，故无弃物。

是谓袭明。

故善人者，不善人之师；

不善人者，善人之资。

不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智，大迷。

是谓要妙。

【译文】

合道境地的人，他的行为无辙迹可追寻，他的言谈无瑕疵可指谪，他的谋划不必借助于筹码的演算，他的关闭不用栓梢而不可打开，他的束缚不用绳索而不可松解。因此，圣人通常留心于救护人，所以没有被遗弃的人，通常留心于修复物，所以没有被废弃的物。这就可以说有了含而不露的明。所以，善人，可以作为不善人的师范；不善人，又可以作为善人的凭资。不懂得标榜师范，不懂得善待凭资，虽然对善不善的知见有很深的认识与把握，行为举措仍将是糊涂之至。懂得这一点是非常精要玄妙的。