道德经全文和注释 (英文版)

Dr.Wayne WANG

13. Self
Both praise and blame cause concern,
For they bring people hope and fear.
The object of hope and fear is the self -
For, without self, to whom may fortune and disaster occur?

Therefore,
Who distinguishes himself from the world may be given the world,
But who regards himself as the world may accept the world.

【原文】
       宠辱若惊，贵大患若身。
       何谓宠辱若惊？宠为下，得之若惊，失之若惊，是谓宠辱若惊。
       何谓贵大患若身？吾所以有大患者，为吾有身，及吾无身，吾有何患？
       故贵以身为天下者，若可寄天下；爱以身为天下者，若可托天下。

Dr.Wayne WANG

12. Substance
Too much colour blinds the eye,
Too much music deafens the ear,
Too much taste dulls the palate,
Too much play maddens the mind,
Too much desire tears the heart.

In this manner the sage cares for people:
He provides for the belly, not for the senses;
He ignores abstraction and holds fast to substance.

【原文】
       五色令人目盲；
       五音令人耳聋；
       五味令人口爽；
       驰骋畋猎令人心发狂；
       难得之货令人行妨。
       是以圣人为腹不为目，故去彼取此。

Dr.Wayne WANG

11. Tools
Thirty spokes meet at a nave;
Because of the hole we may use the wheel.
Clay is moulded into a vessel;
Because of the hollow we may use the cup.
Walls are built around a hearth;
Because of the doors we may use the house.
Thus tools come from what exists,
But use from what does not.

【原文】
        三十辐共一毂，当其无，有车之用。
        埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。
        凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。
        故有之以为利，无之以为用。

Dr.Wayne WANG

10. Harmony
Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing your mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.

Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.

【原文】
        载营魄抱一，能无离乎？
        抟气致柔，能婴儿乎？
        涤除玄鉴，能无疵乎？
        爱民治国，能无为乎？
        天门开阖，能为雌乎？
        明白四达，能无知乎？
        生之，畜之，生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰，是谓玄德。

Dr.Wayne WANG

9. Retire
Fill a cup to its brim and it is easily spilled;
Temper a sword to its hardest and it is easily broken;
Amass the greatest treasure and it is easily stolen;
Claim credit and honour and you easily fall;
Retire once your purpose is achieved - this is natural.

【原文】
       持而盈之，不如其已。
       揣而锐之，不可长保。
       金玉满堂，莫之能守。
       富贵而骄，自遗其咎。
       功成身退，天之道。

Dr.Wayne WANG

8. Water
The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.

So the sage:
Lives within nature,
Thinks within the deep,
Gives within impartiality,
Speaks within trust,
Governs within order,
Crafts within ability,
Acts within opportunity.

He does not contend, and none contend against him.

【原文】
       上善若水。
       水，善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。
       居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。
       夫唯不争，故无尤。

Dr.Wayne WANG

7. Complete
Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.

The sage places himself after and finds himself before,
Ignores his desire and finds himself content.

He is complete because he does not serve himself.

【原文】
       天长，地久。
       天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。
       是以圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存。
       非以其无私邪？故能成其私。

Dr.Wayne WANG

6. Experience
Experience is a riverbed,
Its source hidden, forever flowing:
Its entrance, the root of the world,
The Way moves within it:
Draw upon it; it will not run dry.

【原文】
　　谷神不死，是謂玄牝。
　　玄牝之門，是謂天地根。
　　綿綿若存，用之不勤。

Dr.Wayne WANG

5. Nature
Nature is not kind;
It treats all things impartially.
The Sage is not kind,
And treats all people impartially.

Nature is like a bellows,
Empty, yet never ceasing its supply.
The more it moves, the more it yields;
So the sage draws upon experience
And cannot be exhausted.

【原文】
　　天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗；
　　聖人不仁，以百姓為芻狗。
　　天地之間，其猶橐籥乎？
　　虛而不屈，動而愈出。
　　多言數窮，不如守中。

Dr.Wayne WANG

4. Limitless
The Way is a limitless vessel;
Used by the self, it is not filled by the world;
It cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled;
Its depths are hidden, ubiquitous and eternal;
I don't know where it comes from;
It comes before nature.

【原文】
       道冲，而用之或不盈，渊兮似万物之宗。
       挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘，湛兮似或存。
       吾不知其谁之子，象帝之先。