《道德经》第16章Stephen Mitchell译本

致虚极

守静笃

万物并作

吾以观复

夫物芸芸

各复归其根

归根曰静

是谓复命

复命曰常

知常曰明

不知常

妄作凶

知常容

容乃公

公乃王

王乃天

天乃道

道乃久

没身不殆

Chapter 16

Empty your mind of all thoughts.

Let your heart be at peace.

Watch the turmoil of beings,

but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the

universe

returns to the common source.

Returning to the source is

serenity.

If you don’t realize the source,

you stumble in confusion and

sorrow.

When you realize where you comefrom,

you naturally become tolerant,

Disinterested, amused,

kindhearted as a grandmother,

dignified a saking.

Immersed in the wonder of the

Tao,

you can deal with what ever life

brings you,

and when death comes, you are

ready.