往昔曾得到过道的：天得到道而清明；地得到道而宁静；神（人）得到道而英灵；河谷得到道而充盈；万物得到道而生长；侯王得到道而成为天下的首领。推而言之，天不得清明，恐怕要崩裂；地不得安宁，恐怕要震溃；人不能保持灵性，恐怕要灭绝；河谷不能保持流水，恐怕要干涸；万物不能保持生长，恐怕要消灭；所以贵以贱为根本，高以下为基础，因此侯王们自称为“孤”、“寡”、“不谷”，这不就是以贱为根本吗？不是吗？所以最高的荣誉无须赞美称誉。不要求琭琭晶莹像宝玉，而宁愿珞珞坚硬像山石。

第三十九章

昔之得一者：
天得一以清，
地得一以宁，
神得一以灵，
谷得一以盈，
万物得一以生，
侯王得一以为天下贞。
其致之也。
天无以清，将恐裂；
地无以宁，将恐发；
神无以灵，将恐歇；
谷无以盈，将恐竭。
万物无以生；将恐灭。
侯王无以贞将恐蹶。
故贵以贱为本，
高以下为基。
是以侯王自称孤、寡、不谷。
此非以贱为本耶？
非乎？
至誉无誉。
不欲璐璐如玉，
珞珞如石。

Chapter 39

Of those in the past that obtained the One:
Heaven obtained the One and became clear;
The earth obtained the One and became tranquil;
The Gods obtained the One and became divine;
The valleys obtained the One and became full;
All things obtained the One and became alive and kept growing;
Kings and lords obtained the One and the world became peaceful.
Taking this to its logical conclusion we may say:
If Heaven had not thus become clear,
It would soon have cracked;
If the earth had not thus become tranquil,
It would soon have broken apart;
If the Gods had not thus become divine,
They would soon have perished;
If the valleys had not thus become full,
They would soon have dried up;
If all things had not thus become alive and kept growing,
They would soon have become extinct;
If kings and lords had not thus become honorable and noble,
They would soon have toppled and fallen.
It is always the case
That the noble takes the humble as its root.
And the high takes the low as its base.
Hence kings and lords call themselves
The orphaned, the solitary or the unworthy.
This is regarding the humble as the root of the noble, is it not?
People disdain the “orphaned,” “solitary” or “unworthy.”
And yet kings and lords call themselves by these terms.
Therefore the highest honor needs no flattering.
Thus with everything—
Sometimes it may increase when decreased,
And sometimes it may decrease when increased.
For this reason—
They desire not to dazzle and glitter like jade,
But to remain firm and plain like stone.

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