1. he who knows (the tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.

2. he (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his nostrils). he will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of things; he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity (of others). this is called 'the mysterious agreement.'

3. (such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly; he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; of nobility or meanness:--he is the noblest man under heaven.

知者不言，言者不知。

塞其兑，闭其门；

挫其锐，解其纷；

和其光，同其尘。

是谓玄同。

故不可得而亲，不可得而疏；

不可得而利，不可得而害；

不可得而贵，不可得而贱。

故为天下贵。

【译文】

明于道者不立言，立言的不明于道。堵塞授受承接的接口，关闭出离混沌无名的门径，消磨过分突出的锋角，排解纷挠的矛盾纠结，收敛过于耀眼的光芒，同一切存在浑为一体。这就叫做达成了浑融一体的“玄同”境地。所以，有所得于道就超越了亲、疏、利、害、贵、贱的捕获。这样可以得到整个天下的共同推重。