二章
天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已。皆知善之為善，斯不善已。有無相生，難易相成，長短相形，高下相盈，音聲相和，前後相隨。恆也。是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教；萬物作而弗始，生而弗有，為而弗恃，功成而不居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。
2. All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is.
So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.
Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.
All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results). The work is accomplished, and there is no resting in it (as an achievement).
The work is done, but how no one can see;
‘Tis this that makes the power not cease to be.
天下都知道什么是美，丑恶就显现了；都知道什么是好，不好就显现了。
有和无相伴而生，难和易相辅相成，长和短相较显形，上和下相对呈现，音和声相互调和，前和后相随而行。这样相互依赖又相互转化是恒常的存在。
所以得道的人行事顺应自然而不妄为，不以强制号令而是潜移默化的教化；任凭万物生长而不干涉，创造万物而不据为己有，培育万物而不自我夸耀，成就功业又不居功自傲。正因为不居功，所以才会不朽。
原著：老子；Tr. James Legge; 精解：龍裔君
