| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Those who wish to seize all under heaven and shape it— | |
| I see they are compelled. | |
| All under heaven is a sacred vessel; | |
| it cannot be shaped. | |
| Those who shape it ruin it; | |
| those who grasp it lose it. | |
| So things—some advance, some follow; | |
| some breathe out, some blow; | |
| some are strong, some are frail; | |
| some are thwarted, some collapse. | |
| Therefore the sage removes the extreme, | |
| removes extravagance, | |
| removes excess. |
general; commander; lead; about to; will; transfer
desire; want; intend; be about to; appetite
take; fetch; seize; obtain; choose; win
sky; heaven; nature; fate; day
below; down; descend; next; subordinate
and; but; yet; while; moreover
do; make; become; be; serve as; for; because of
it, him, her, them; of; 's; go to; reach
I; me; my
see; meet; perceive; appear; view
his; her; its; their; that; the one who; such
not; no; un-; non=
obtain; get; achieve; be able to; succeed
already; finished; completed; ceased
spirit; deity; divine; supernatural; mind/consciousness
vessel; container; tool; implement; talent; organ
can; may; possible; permissible; acceptable; to approve
also; too; likewise; [final particle of assertion]
one who; person; that which; the ...-er
defeat; fail; decay; ruin; collapse
hold; grasp; execute; maintain; adhere to
lose; miss; fail; error; mistake
cause; reason; former; old; therefore
thing; object; matter; creature; substance
perhaps; or; some; a certain; maybe
walk; go; conduct; behavior; line; row; carry out
follow; accompany; comply; according to; at will
sigh; gasp; breathe deeply
blow; breathe; puff; boast; play (wind instrument)
strong; powerful; intense; to force; to compel; sturdy
thin; emaciated; weak; frail
break; crush; frustrate; hinder; rub down
collapse; crumble; fall apart; ruined
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
go; leave; remove; past; depart
very; exceedingly; extreme; grave; excessive
extravagant; luxurious; lavish; to spend wastefully
peaceful; exalted; great; stable; Mount Tai