老子《道德经》第三十二章英译

【原文】

道常无名，朴。虽小，天下莫能臣。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。

天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。

始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止可以不殆。

譬道之在天下，犹江海之于川谷。

【现代汉语】

道永远是不可名状而质朴的。它虽不可见，却没有任何事物能脱离、违背它。王侯若能遵循它的规律来治理天下，百姓就自然会归从于他。

天地间气息相合，降下甘雨，它无需人为的干涉，就自然会均匀地滋润大地万物。

世间万物从诞生的那一刻就依据道的法则产生了各自的角色和价值，角色已经制定，就要根据各自的角色顺任自然的规律去发展，知道遵循规律，就可以避免危险。

道对于天下来说，就象大海对于河川一样。

【英译】

Tao is inexpressible and unvarnished forever. There is nothing can disobey and disengage its rule although the Tao is sightless. The emperor who manages the state according to Tao's rules would make all people submit themselves to him.

Heaven and Earth under its guidance unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere.

All things (includes human) has his own role and value as soon as he was brought to this metagalaxy. When he once has that role and value, he should know to act as the standard of his own role according to the Tao's rules in order to implement his value. Then, he be free from all risk of failure and error.

The relation of the Tao to all the world is like that of the great oceans to the rivers and streams from the valleys.
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