第51章 · 原文
现代白话译文
道生长万物，德养育万物，使万物呈现各种形态，环境使万物成长。因此万物没有不尊崇道而贵重德的。道之所以被尊崇，德之所以被贵重，它不需要谁来下令，而是常自然的。所以道生长万物，德养育万物；使万物生长发育，使万物成熟结果；使万物得到爱护和保护。生长万物而不占有，养育万物而不自恃有功，统领万物而不任意主宰，这就是最深远的德。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
The way gives them life; Virtue rears them; Things give them shape; Circumstances bring them to maturity. Therefore the myriad creatures all revere the way and honor virtue. Yet the way is revered and virtue honored not because this is decreed by any authority but because it is natural for them to be treated so. Thus the way gives them life and rears them; Brings them up and nurses them; Brings them to fruition and maturity; Feeds and shelters them. It gives them life yet claims no possession; It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude; It is the steward yet exercises no authority. Such is called the mysterious virtue.
Robert Henricks
1. The Way gives birth to them and Virtue nourishes them; 2. Substance gives them form and their unique capacities complete them. 3. Therefore the ten thousand things venerate the Way and honor Virtue. 4. As for their veneration of the Way and their honoring of Virtue — 5. No one rewards them for it; it's constantly so on its own. 6. The Way gives birth to them, nourishes them, matures them, completes them, rests them, rears them, supports them, and protects them. 7. It gives birth to them but doesn't try to own them; 8. It acts on their behalf but doesn't make them dependent; 9. It matures them but doesn't rule them. 10. This we call Profound Virtue.
Addiss & Lombardo
The way produces them, virtue rears them. Things shape them, circumstances complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things all revere the way and honor virtue. Revering the way and honoring virtue are not commanded, but always natural. Therefore the way produces them, virtue rears them, grows them, shelters them, settles them, nourishes them, protects them. Produces but does not possess, acts but does not rely, leads but does not rule. This is called mysterious virtue.
Arthur Waley
Tao gave them birth; The "power" of Tao reared them, Shaped them according to their kinds, Perfected them, giving to each its strength. Therefore Of the ten thousand things there is not one that does not worship Tao And do homage to its "power". No mandate ever went forth that accorded to Tao the right to be worshipped, Nor to its "power" the right to be worshipped, Nor to its "power" the right to receive homage. It was always and of itself so. Therefore as Tao bore them and the "power" of Tao reared them, Made them grow, fostered them, Harboured them, Brewed for them, So you must rear them, but not lay claim to them, Control them, but never lean upon them, Be chief among them, but do not manage them. This is called the mysterious power."
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao. It springs into existence, unconscious, perfect, free, takes on a physical body, lets circumstances complete it. That is why every being spontaneously honors the Tao. The Tao gives birth to all beings, nourishes them, maintains them, cares for them, comforts them, protects them, takes them back to itself, creating without possessing, acting without expecting, guiding without interfering. That is why love of the Tao is in the very nature of things.