第5章 · 原文
现代白话译文
天地是无所谓仁慈的，它没有偏爱，对待万物就像对待刍狗一样一视同仁；圣人也是无所谓仁慈的，也同样像对待刍狗一样对待百姓一视同仁。天地之间，岂不像个风箱吗？空虚但不会枯竭，越鼓动风就越多，生生不息。政令繁多反而会加速败亡，不如保持内心的虚静。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats the people as straw dogs. Is not the space between heaven and earth like a bellows? It is empty without being exhausted: The more it works the more comes out. Much speech leads inevitably to silence. Better to hold fast to the void.
Robert Henricks
1. Heaven and Earth are not humane; 2. They regard the the thousand things as straw dogs. 3. The Sage is not humane; 4. He regards the common people as straw dogs. 5. The space between Heaven and Earth — is it not like a bellow? 6. It is empty and yet not depleted; 7. Move it and more [always] comes out. 8. Much learning means frequent exhaustions. 9. That's not so good as holding on to the mean.
Addiss & Lombardo
Heaven and earth aren't humane, they treat the ten thousand things as straw dogs. The sage isn't humane, he treats the common people as straw dogs. The space between heaven and earth—is it not like a bellows? Empty and yet not failing, moving and gushing forth. The more you talk of it the worse it gets. It's better to keep what's inside.
Arthur Waley
Heaven and Earth are ruthless; To them the Ten Thousand things are but as straw dogs. The Sage too is ruthless; To him the people are but as straw dogs. Yet Heaven and Earth and all that lies between Is like a bellows In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails. Work it, and more comes out. Whereas the force of words is soon spent. Far better is it to keep what is in the heart.
林语堂
This version is not yet available.
Stephen Mitchell
The Tao doesn't take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil. The Master doesn't take sides; she welcomes both saints and sinners. The Tao is like a bellows: it is empty yet infinitely capable. The more you use it, the more it produces; the more you talk of it, the less you understand. Hold on to the center.