道德经上篇：《道经》
第十五章
【原文】
古之善为士者①，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容②；豫兮若冬涉川③；犹兮若畏四邻④；俨兮其若客；涣兮其若凌释；敦兮其若朴；旷兮其若谷；混兮其若浊；澹兮其若海；飂兮若无止。孰能浊以静之徐清。孰能安以动之徐生。保此道者，不欲盈。夫唯不盈，故能蔽而新成。
【注释】
①士：懂得“道”，行为符合道之法则的人。
②容：形容，描述之意。
③豫：兽名，性多疑，每有行动，踟躇不敢行，这里用以形容行为之瞻前顾后。
④犹：兽名，其特点与“豫”相似。
【译文】
古时善于行“道”的人，见解微妙而且深刻玄远，不是一般人所能了解的。正因为他深藏不露无法了解，所以只好勉强用下面一些比喻来将他描述：他的小心谨慎啊，就像冬天赤脚涉水过河时那样逡巡不前；他的警觉戒备啊，就好像居于强邻的包围之中，不得不时时警惕万分；他的拘谨严肃啊，就像在做客一样；他的融合可亲啊，就好像正在消融的冰；他的醇厚质朴啊，就像没有雕琢过的原木；他的旷远豁达啊，就像空旷的山谷一样；他的浑厚宽容啊，就像浑浑浊浊的江河大流一样。谁能在动荡中静止下来，在安静中慢慢变得澄清。谁能在安定中变动起来，使其慢慢显出生机。保持上述道的要义的人，不肯自满。正因为他从不自满，所以能够去故更新。
English Translation
Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
So subtle, discerning and profound are the ancient followers of Tao,
That words can only poorly describe them as:
Watchful as if crossing a winter river,
Cautious as if in fear of their neighbors,
Polite and respectful like guests,
Natural and authentic like melting ice,
Simple like uncarved wood,
All-embracing like a valley,
Earthy like muddy water.
Who can settle the mud to make water clear?
Who can revive a stiff corpse?
Those who follow this Tao will not be conceited.
Only through lack of conceit can one be renewed when worn out and dying.
That words can only poorly describe them as:
Watchful as if crossing a winter river,
Cautious as if in fear of their neighbors,
Polite and respectful like guests,
Natural and authentic like melting ice,
Simple like uncarved wood,
All-embracing like a valley,
Earthy like muddy water.
Who can settle the mud to make water clear?
Who can revive a stiff corpse?
Those who follow this Tao will not be conceited.
Only through lack of conceit can one be renewed when worn out and dying.
Version 2：by John C. H. Wu
