Daodejing - Chapter 39

道德經  - 第三十九章

昔之得一者：天得一以清；地得一以寧； 

神得一以靈；谷得一以盈； 

萬物得一以生；侯王得一以為天下貞。

其致之，天無以清，將恐裂；地無以寧，將恐發；

神無以靈，將恐歇；谷無以盈，將恐竭；

萬物無以生，將恐滅；侯王無以貴高將恐蹶。

故貴以賤為本，高以下為基。

是以侯王自稱孤、寡、不穀。

此非以賤為本耶？非乎？

故致數譽無譽。

不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。

Daodejing - Chapter Thirty Nine

In harmony with the Dao; the sky is clear and spacious; the earth is solid and full.

All creatures flourish together, content with the way they are -  endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed. 

When man interferes with the Dao; the sky becomes filthy; the earth becomes depleted. 

The equilibrium crumbles; creatures become extinct.

The master used the parts with compassion, because he understands the whole, his constant practice, his humility. 

He doesn't glitter like a jewel, but lets himself be shaped by the Dao, as rugged and common as a stone. 

References

1. The English translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell, with some changes.  
2. The Chinese text is based on the Daodejing (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website : https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing.