Verse 51

The Tao gives life to all things,
and its Virtue nourishes them,
forms each according to its nature
and gives to each its inner strength.

Therefore, the ten thousand things all venerate the Tao and honour its Virtue.
It has never been decreed that the Tao be venerated and its Virtue be honoured;
they have always been so treated spontaneously.

Thus, the Tao gives life to all things;
and its Virtue raises them, nourishes them,
brings them to their full growth,
feeds, shelters, and protects them.

Giving life without claiming authority,
benefiting without demanding gratitude,
guiding without control.
This is called hidden Virtue.

Verse 52

All things under heaven had a common beginning,
and that beginning could be considered
the Mother of all things.

When you know the Mother
you will also know the children.

Know the children, yet hold fast to the Mother,
and to the end of your days
you will be free from danger.

Block the passages!
Shut the doors!
And, to the end of your days
your strength will not fail you.

Open the passages!
Increase your activities!
And, to the end of your days
you will be beyond help.

See the small and develop clear vision.
Practise yielding and develop strength.
Use the outer light to return to the inner light,
and save yourself from harm.

This is known as following the Always-so.

Verse 53

If I have even little sense,
I will walk upon the great path of Tao
and only fear straying from it.

This Great Way is straight and smooth
yet people often prefer the side roads.

The courtyard is well kept
but the fields are full of weeds,
and the granaries stand empty.

Still, there are those of us
who wear elegant clothes, carry sharp swords,
pamper ourselves with food and drink
and have more possessions than we can use.

These are the actions of robbers.
This is certainly far from the Tao.