1. he who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the tao) is like an infant. poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him.

2. (the infant's) bones are weak and its sinews soft, but yet its grasp is firm. it knows not yet the union of male and female, and yet its virile member may be excited;--showing the perfection of its physical essence. all day long it will cry without its throat becoming hoarse;--showing the harmony (in its constitution).

3. to him by whom this harmony is known,

(the secret of) the unchanging (tao) is shown,

and in the knowledge wisdom finds its throne.

all life-increasing arts to evil turn;

where the mind makes the vital breath to burn,

(false) is the strength, (and o'er it we should mourn.)

4. when things have become strong, they (then) become old, which may be said to be contrary to the tao. whatever is contrary to the tao soon ends.

含德之厚，比于赤子；

毒虫不螫，猛兽不据，攫鸟不搏，骨弱筋柔而握固，未知牝牡之合而俊作，精之至也；

终日号而不嗄，和之至也。

知和曰常，知常曰明。

益生曰祥，心使气曰强。

物壮则老，谓之不道，不道早已。

【译文】

含德深厚的行为者，就好比初生的婴儿：毒虫不螫他，猛兽不伤害他，凶恶的鸟不搏击他，骨弱筋柔却握持牢固，不知男女交合之事却能照常勃起──精力充沛之极；整天啼哭却不会力竭声嘶──和气敦厚之极。懂得取态柔和就可以达成生存的恒常，懂得达成生存的恒常就叫做明于道。生更执生是危险，心意过分纵使气机效能是逞强。存在过于强壮就会趋于老化，这不合于道，不合于道总是过早地死亡。