道德经上篇：《道经》
第四章
【原文】
道冲，而用之或不盈①。渊兮，似万物之宗②；挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘，湛兮，似或存③。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先④。
【注释】
①冲：虚而不满的意思。盈：满的意思，引申为尽。
②兮：语气词，可译为“啊”。
③湛：没有、虚无的意思。
④帝之先：天地的祖先，形容其出现之早。
【译文】
大道是空虚无形的，但它发生作用时却永无止境。它如深渊一样广大，像是世间万物的宗主。它不显露锋芒，解除世间的纷乱，收敛它的光耀，混同它于尘世。它看起来幽隐虚无却又实际存在。我不知道它是从哪里产生出来的，好像在天帝之前就已经有了。
English Translation
Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
The power of the invisible Tao is inexhaustible;
Deep like an abyss, he appears as the progenitor of all things.
Abandon self-righteousness.
Be free from temptations.
Come to the light.
Accept that by nature you are dust.
The being then may be dimly visible in the distance.
I do not know whose child he is,
For he is before all visible gods.
Deep like an abyss, he appears as the progenitor of all things.
Abandon self-righteousness.
Be free from temptations.
Come to the light.
Accept that by nature you are dust.
The being then may be dimly visible in the distance.
I do not know whose child he is,
For he is before all visible gods.
Version 2：by John C. H. Wu
