Daodejing - Chapter Eight

 

Wikisource:- Category: Laozi, woodcuts of China

道德經  - 第八章

上善若水。

水善利萬物而不爭，處衆人之所惡，故幾於道。

居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，動善時。

夫唯不爭，故無尤。

Daodejing - Chapter Eight

The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to.

It is content with the low places, that people disdain.

Thus it is like the Dao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground;

In thinking, keep to the simple;

In conflict, be fair and generous;

In governing, don't try to control;

In work, do what you enjoy;

In family life, be completely present.

When you content to be simply yourself, and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu:  https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 16:50 and ends at 18:00..
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing