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天之道,
Tiān zhī dào,
The Dao of heaven,
其犹张弓欤?
Qí yóu zhāng gōng yú?
Is like the bending of a bow.
高者抑之,
Gāo zhě yì zhī,
It lowers the high,
下者举之;
Xià zhě jǔ zhī;
And raises the low;
有馀者损之,
Yǒu yú zhě sǔn zhī,
It lessens where there is excess,
不足者补之。
Bùzú zhě bǔ zhī.
And adds where there is deficiency.
天之道,
Tiān zhī dào,
The Dao of heaven,
损有馀而补不足。
Sǔn yǒu yú ér bǔ bùzú.
Reduces surplus and replenishes lack.
人之道,
Rén zhī dào,
Human ways,
则不然,
Zé bùrán,
Are not like this,
损不足以奉有馀。
Sǔn bùzú yǐ fèng yǒu yú.
They take from the needy to serve the excessive.
孰能有馀以奉天下,
Shú néng yǒu yú yǐ fèng tiānxià,
Who can give their surplus to the world?
唯有道者。
Wéi yǒu dào zhě.
Only those who embody the Dao.
是以圣人为而不恃,
Shì yǐ shèng rén wéi ér bù shì,
Therefore the sage acts without relying on force,
功成而不处,
Gōng chéng ér bù chǔ,
Achieves without dwelling,
其不欲见贤。
Qí bù yù jiàn xián.
And does not desire to display virtue.