第三十九章   得一而安

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，侯得一以为天下正。其致之。 谓天无以清，将恐裂； 地无以宁，将恐废；神无以灵，将恐歇；谷无以盈， 将恐竭；万物无以生，将恐灭；侯王无以正，将恐蹶。 故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以侯王自称孤、寡、不谷。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？故致数誉无誉。不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。

 [译文]

远古天人合一时代：天得道则清净明朗，地得道则宁静安详，人得道则安定平和，川谷得道则丰盛盈满，万物得道则发展生长，侯王得道则天下太平。反之，天不能保持清明，难免就会崩裂；地不能保持宁静，难免就会塌陷；人心迷乱，就失去安定；川谷不盈满，难免就会干枯；万物不生长，难免就会灭绝；侯王失去天德根本，难免就会垮台。所以贵者要以贱者为根本，高者要以下部为基石。侯王们自己贱称孤家寡人，五谷不分，不正是以卑贱为本吗？道理不正在此吗？

道本源的声誉是无须夸耀的，即使是如玉般美好，没有德根则没有任何意义，还不如石块般朴实无华。

Peace and Haromony

From old, there is harmony with the One:

The sky in harmony with the Oneness is clear,

earth in harmony with the Oneness is stable.

Spirituality in harmony with the Oneness is inspiring,

valley in harmony with the Oneness is fertile,

all things in harmony with the Oneness is reproductive.

leaders in harmony with the Oneness is incorruptible.

On the contrary,

The sky without clarity would probably crack,

earth in without stability would probably quake,

spirituality without inspiration would not thus become divine,

valley without fullness would probably dry up,

all things without reproduction would probably witheraway,

leaders corrupted would probably stumble and fall.

Thereforehumility is the basis for nobility, and the low is the basis for the high.

Thatis why the princes and dukes call themselves "the orphaned,""the lonely one," "the unworthy." Is is not true then thatthey depend upon the common man for support?

Therefore, attain honor without being honored.

The virtues of Tao do not shine like jade,