二十八

知其雄,
守其雌,
為天下谿。
為天下谿,
常德不離,
復歸于嬰兒。
知其白 ,
守其黑,
為天下式,
常德不忒,
復歸于無極。
知其榮,
守其辱,
為天下 谷。
為天下谷,
常德乃足,
復歸于朴。
為天下式。
朴散則為器,
聖人用之 ,
則為官長,
故大制不割。

èr shí bā

zhī qí xióng
shŏu qí cí
wéi tiān xià qī
wéi tiān xià qī
cháng dé bù lí
fù guī yú yīng ér
zhī qí bái
shŏu qí hēi
wéi tiān xià shì
cháng dé bù tè
fù guī yú wú jí
zhī qí róng
shŏu qí rŭ
wéi tiān xià gŭ
wéi tiān xià gŭ
cháng dé năi zú
fù guī yú pŭ
wéi tiān xià shì
pŭ săn zé wéi qì
shèng rén yòng zhī
zé wéi guān cháng
gù dà zhì bù gē

28

Know the male,
yet keep to the female:
receive the world in your arms.
If you receive the world,
the Tao will never leave you
and you will be like a little child.

Know the white,
yet keep to the black:
be a pattern for the world.
If you are a pattern for the world,
the Tao will be strong inside you
and there will be nothing you can't do.

Know the personal,
yet keep to the impersonal:
accept the world as it is.
If you accept the world,
the Tao will be luminous inside you
and you will return to your primal self.

The world is formed from the void,
like utensils from a block of wood.
The Master knows the utensils,
yet keeps to the the block:
thus she can use all things.
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