Verse 39

From ancient times these things have arisen from the One:
Heaven is clear because of the One,
The earth is firm because of the One,
The Spirit is strong because of the One,
The valley is full because of the One,
The ten thousand things reproduce because of the One,
Leaders are able to lead because of the One.
All of this comes from the One.

If heaven were not clear it would soon split.
If the earth were not firm it would soon bend and break.
If the Spirit were not strong it would soon wear out.
If the valley were not full it would soon dry up.
If the ten thousand things did not reproduce they would soon die out.
If leaders could not lead they would soon fall.

Therefore, greatness has its source in the little.
The low is the foundation of the high.
Princes call themselves “alone,” “helpless,” “worthless.”
Is this not acknowledging a humble root?
Enumerate the parts of a carriage and you have not defined a carriage.
Better to resound like stone chimes than to tinkle like jade bells.

Verse 40

Returning is the direction of the Tao.
Yielding is the way of the Tao.

The ten thousand things are born of Being
and Being is born of Nonbeing.

Verse 41

The wise student on hearing the Tao diligently puts it into practice.
The average student on hearing the Tao
keeps it one minute and loses it the next.

The mediocre student on hearing the Tao laughs at it loudly.
If this student did not laugh it would not be the Tao.

Therefore, the ancient proverb says:
The bright path seems dull.
The path that goes toward seems to lead backward.
The even path seems up and down.
The greatest whiteness seems soiled.
High Virtue seems like a canyon.
Abundant Virtue seems deficient.
Vigorous Virtue seems limp.
Simple Virtue seems faded.

The greatest square has no corners.
The greatest vessel takes long to complete.
The greatest note is hard to hear.
The greatest image has no shape.
The Tao is hidden and nameless;
yet, it is the Tao alone that supports all things
and brings them to completion.

Verse 42

The Tao gives birth to the One.
The One gives birth to two.

Two gives birth to three.
And three gives birth to the ten thousand things.

The ten thousand things have their backs in the shadow
while they embrace the light.

Harmony is achieved by blending the breaths of these two forces.
People dislike the words “alone,” “helpless,” “worthless,”

yet this is how Princes describe themselves.
So it is that sometimes a thing is increased

by being diminished and diminished by being increased.
What others teach I also teach:

“A violent person will not die a natural death.”
I shall make this the basis of my teaching.