| 昔 之 得 一 者 |
the ancients who obtain completeness... |
| 天 得 一 以 清 |
heaven obtains completeness through clearness |
| 地 得 一 以 靈 |
earth obtains completeness through calmness |
| 神 得 一 以 寧 |
spirit obtains completeness through alertness |
| 谷 得 一 以 盈 |
valley obtains completeness through bounteousness |
| 萬 物 得 一 以 生 |
the many-diverse-creatures obtain completeness through healthiness |
| 侯 王 得 一 以 為 天 下 貞 |
the ruling-class obtain completeness through the loyalty of all-under-heaven |
| 其 致 之 |
which causes... |
| 天 無 以 清 將 恐 裂 |
heaven to lack as clearness flees before thunder |
| 地 無 以 寧 將 恐 發 |
earth to lack as calmness flees before quakeing |
| 神 無 以 靈 將 恐 歇 |
spirit to lack as alertness flees before slumber |
| 谷 無 以 盈 將 恐 竭 |
valley to lack as bounteousness flees before dearth |
| 萬 物 無 以 生 將 恐 滅 |
the many-diverse-creatures to lack as healthiness flees before dwindling |
| 侯 王 無 以 貞 貴 高 |
the ruling-class to lack as high honors flee before stumbling |
| 將 恐 蹙 |
because... |
| 故 貴 以 賤 為 本 |
honor is grounded in actions-humble |
| 高 以 下 為 基 |
highness supported by the actions-under |
| 侯 王 自 謂 孤 寡 不 榖 |
thus the ruling-class call themselves orphans, widows, and un-lucky |
| 此 其 以 賤 為 本 也 |
this is the wrong way to be grounded in actions-humble |
| 非 乎 |
wrong! |
| 故 致 數 車 無 車 |
the reason to cause the measuring of public-opinion is a lack of public-opinion |
| 不 欲 琭 琭 如 玉 |
not desiring to sparkle as jade |
| 落 落 如 石 |
but yoked about the neck as with stone |