| 道 生 之 |
the Way gave life to them |
| 德 畜 之 |
Virtue nurtured them |
| 物 形 之 |
subtance embodied them |
| 勢 成 之 |
potential completed them |
| 是 以 萬 物 |
this is why, of the 10k things |
| 莫 不 |
there are none who don't ... |
| 尊 道 |
reverence the Way |
| 而 貴 德 |
and treasure Virtue |
| 道 之 尊 |
the Way, they reverence |
| 德 之 貴 |
Virtue, they treasure |
| 夫 莫 之 命 |
(? the fate of those who don't ?) |
| 而 常 自 然 |
(? as well as continuing naturally thus ?) |
| 故 道 生 之 |
the Way gives life to them |
| 德 畜 之 |
Virtue nurtures them |
| 長 之 |
guides them |
| 育 之 |
raises them |
| 成 之 |
completes them |
| 熟 之 |
ripens them |
| 養 之 |
supports them |
| 覆 之 |
shields them |
| 生 而 不 有 |
creating but not claiming |
| 為 而 不 恃 |
doing but not expecting |
| 長 而 不 宰 |
guiding but not coercing |
| 是 謂 玄 德 |
this is called the "mysterious Virtue" |