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；
侯得一以为天下正。
其致之。
天无以清，将恐裂；
地无以宁，将恐废；
神无以灵，将恐歇；
谷无以盈，将恐竭；
侯王无以贵高，将恐蹶。
故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。
是以侯王自谓「孤」、「寡」、「不谷」。
此非以贱为本耶？非乎？
故致数誉无誉。
是故不欲禄禄如玉。
珞珞如石。
There were those in ancient times possessed of the One;
Through possession of the One, the Heaven was clarified,
Through possession of the One, The Earth was stabilized,
Through possession of the One, the gods were spiritualized,
Through possession of the One, the valleys were made full,
Through possession of the One, all things lived and grew,
Through possession of the One, the princes and dukes
becamethe ennobled of the people.
– that was how each became so.
Without clarity, the Heavens would shake,
Without stability, the Earth would quake,
Without spiritual power, the gods would crumble,
Without being filled, the valleys would crack,
Without the life-giving power, all things would perish,
Without the ennobling power, the princes and dukes would stumble.
therefore the nobility depend upon the common man for support,
And the exalted ones depend upon the lowly for their base.
That is why the princes and dukes call themselves
‘the orphaned,’ ‘the lonely one,’ ‘the unworthy.’
Is is not true then that they depend upon the common man for support?
Truly, take down the parts of a chariot,
And there is no chariot (left).
Rather than jingle like the jade,
Rumble like the rocks.
