1. who knows his manhood's strength,

yet still his female feebleness maintains;

as to one channel flow the many drains,

all come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.

thus he the constant excellence retains;

the simple child again, free from all stains.

who knows how white attracts,

yet always keeps himself within black's shade,

the pattern of humility displayed,

displayed in view of all beneath the sky;

he in the unchanging excellence arrayed,

endless return to man's first state has made.

who knows how glory shines,

yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;

behold his presence in a spacious vale,

to which men come from all beneath the sky.

the unchanging excellence completes its tale;

the simple infant man in him we hail.

2. the unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels. the sage, when employed, becomes the head of all the officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations he employs no violent measures.

知其雄，守其雌，为天下谿。

为天下谿，常德不离，复归于婴儿。

知其白，守其黑，为天下式。

为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。

知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。

为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。

朴散则为器，圣人用之则为官长。

故大制不割。

【译文】

虽深知什么是雄强，却安守于雌柔取态而处事，甘作天下的沟谿。甘作天下的沟谿，永恒的德性就不会离失，复归于婴儿般的随和态。虽深知什么是清白豁亮，却安守于摸黑行进的取态，甘作天下的试探者。甘作天下的试探者，永恒的德行就不会有偏差，复归于无所突出无所特恃的未分化态。虽深知什么是荣华显耀，却安守于平常的谦卑取态，甘作天下的虚无者。甘作天下的虚无者，永恒的德行才趋于的圆满，复归于混沌无名的朴初态。混沌无名的朴演化展开就成为各种功能性的器具，圣人发挥他那无不为的潜能就成了官长。所以，大道的体制浑然而不断裂。