道生一,
|
The Dao brings forth One. |
一生二,
|
One brings forth Two. |
二生三,
|
Two brings forth Three. |
三生万物。
|
Three brings forth all things. |
万物负阴而抱阳,
|
All things carry yin and embrace yang, |
冲气以为和。
|
Achieving harmony through their union. |
人之所恶,
|
People detest being alone, |
唯孤、寡、不谷,
|
Feeling orphaned, widowed, or worthless, |
而王公以为称。
|
Yet kings and nobles describe themselves this way. |
故物或损之而益,
|
Thus, loss can be a gain, |
或益之而损。
|
And gain can be a loss. |
人之所教,
|
What others teach, I also teach: |
我亦教之。
|
Those who use violence will meet a violent end. |
强梁者不得其死,
|
This is the foundation of my teaching. |