| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Not exalting the worthy, | |
| so people do not strive; | |
| Not valuing rare goods, | |
| so people do not steal; | |
| Not displaying what is desirable, | |
| so the heart is not disturbed. | |
| Therefore, the sage governs thus: | |
| empty their hearts, | |
| fill their bellies, | |
| weaken their will, | |
| strengthen their bones. | |
| Always keep the people without knowledge, without desire; | |
| make those who know not dare to act. | |
| Acting through non-action, | |
| nothing remains ungoverned. |
not; no; un-; non=
still; yet; esteem; value; high; superior
virtuous; worthy; capable; a person of merit; wise
cause; make; send; envoy; use
people; citizens; subjects; commoners; populace
strive; contend; dispute; struggle; compete
expensive; noble; precious; to value
difficult; hard; calamity; trouble; distress
obtain; get; achieve; be able to; succeed
it, him, her, them; of; 's; go to; reach
goods; merchandise; wealth; to accuse; to speak
do; make; become; be; serve as; for; because of
steal; thief; rob; plunder
see; meet; perceive; appear; view
can; may; possible; permissible; acceptable; to approve
desire; want; intend; be about to; appetite
heart; mind; center; intention; to think/feel
disorder; chaos; confuse; riot; indiscriminately
right; correct; this; to be
by means of; use; because; so as to; in order to
holy; sacred; sage; saintly; divine
person; human; people; others; mankind
govern; rule; manage; cure; treat; water-control
empty; void; hollow; false; frail; vain
his; her; its; their; that; the one who; such
fruit; substance; real; sincere; to bear fruit; truth
belly; abdomen; stomach; interior; heart/mind
weak; feeble; faint; fragile; to weaken
will; intention; ambition; to record; chronicle
strong; powerful; intense; to force; to compel; sturdy
bone; skeleton; frame; core; essence
frequent; constant; ordinary; habitual; eternal
not; without; nothing; lacking; void
know; recognize; understand; knowledge; wisdom
man; husband; adult male; [particle] now; indeed; as for
one who; person; that which; the ...-er
dare; venture; presume; audacious
also; too; likewise; [final particle of assertion]
rule; law; then; as for; consequently