第55章 · 原文
现代白话译文
含德深厚的人，就像初生的婴儿。毒虫不刺他，猛兽不伤害他，凶鸟不搏击他。筋骨柔弱而拳头握得牢固。不懂男女交合而生殖器勃起，这是精气充沛的极致。整天啼哭而嗓子不哑，这是元气和谐的极致。懂得和谐叫作常，懂得常叫作明。贪生纵欲就叫作妖祥。欲望支配精气叫作逞强。事物过于强壮就会走向衰老，这叫作不合乎道，不合乎道就会很快灭亡。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
One who possesses virtue in abundance is comparable to a new born babe: Poisonous insects will not sting it; Ferocious animals will not pounce on it; Predatory birds will not swoop down on it. Its bones are weak and its sinews supple yet its hold is firm. It does not know the union of male and female yet its male member will stir: This is because its virility is at its height. It howls all day yet does not become hoarse: This is because its harmony is at its height. To know harmony is called the constant; To know the constant is called discernment. To try to add to one's vitality is called ill-omened; For the mind to egg on the breath is called violent. A creature in its prime doing harm to the old Is known as going against the way. That which goes against the way will come to an early end.
Robert Henricks
1. One who embraces the fullness of Virtue, 2. Can be compared to a newborn babe. 3. Wasps and scorpions, snakes and vipers do not sting him; 4. Birds of prey and fierce beasts do not seize him; 5. His bones and muscles are weak and pliant, yet his grasp is firm; 6. He does not yet know the meeting of male and female, yet his organ is aroused — 7. This is because his essence is at its height. 8. He can scream all day, yet he won't become hoarse — 9. This is because his harmony is at its height. 10. To know harmony is called "the constant"; 11. To know the constant is called "being wise"; 12. To add on to life is called a "bad omen"; 13. For the mind to control the breath — that's called "forcing things." 14. When things reach their prime they get old; 15. This is called "not the Way." 16. What is not the Way will come to an early end.
Addiss & Lombardo
He who is rich in virtue is like a newborn. Poisonous insects do not sting him, wild beasts do not claw him, birds of prey do not strike him. His bones are weak, his tendons soft, but his grip is firm. He does not know the union of male and female, but his organ is aroused - this is the peak of essence. He can cry all day without becoming hoarse - this is the peak of harmony. Knowing harmony is called constant. Knowing constant is called enlightenment. To increase life is called auspicious. The mind controlling the qi is called strong. Things prosper then grow old - this is called not following the way. What does not follow the way will perish early.
Arthur Waley
The impunity of things fraught with the "power" May be likened to that of an infant. Poisonous insects do not sting it, Nor fierce beasts seize it, Nor clawing birds maul it, Its bones are soft, its sinews weak; but its grip is strong. Not yet to have known the union of male and female, But to be completely formed, Means that the vital force is at its height; To be able to scream all day without getting hoarse Means that the harmony is at its perfection. To understand such harmony is to understand the always so. To understand the always-so is to be illumined. But to fill life to the brim is to invite omens. If the heart makes calls upon the life-breath, rigidity follows. Whatever has a time of vigour also has a time of decay. Such things are against Tao, And whatever is against Tao is soon destroyed.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn child. Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is powerful. It doesn't know about the union of male and female, yet its penis can stand erect, so intense is its vital power. It can scream its head off all day, yet it never becomes hoarse, so complete is its harmony. The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.