Tao Te Ching Chapter 32
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
道常无名。①朴虽小，天下莫能臣也。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，知止所以不殆。譬道之在天下，犹川谷之与江海。
The Dao, considered as unchanging, has no name.
Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the whole world dares not deal with (one embodying) it as a minister. If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it, all would spontaneously 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 as of its own accord.
As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name. When it once has that name, (men) can know to rest in it. When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error.
The relation of the Dao to all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streams from the valleys.
【译文】道，永恒存在而无名，状态自然而然而未经雕琢。即使以细小幽微的状态出现，天下也没有谁能够支配役使它。侯王治理天下如果能够遵循它顺应它，那么万物就会自己归顺。天地间阴阳之气相合，就会降下甘露，黎民没有谁的命令也会自觉均享。最初的法规建立了就会产生相应的名位，相应的名位已经确定了，就要知道这个名位相应的权限，知道了与名位相符的权限就不会有危险。存在于天下的道，就像河川注入的江海。
【注释】①朴虽小：本章王弼注多言‘朴’，据河上公《注》本、马王堆《老子乙》增。
The Dao, eternally present and nameless, exists in a natural state without being carved. Even when it appears in a subtle and minute form, no one under heaven can dominate or command it. If the lords govern the world according to and conform to it, then all things will naturally submit themselves. When the yin and yang energies of heaven and earth combine, they bring down sweet dew, which the common people share spontaneously without any commands. Once the original laws are established, corresponding ranks and positions arise; once these ranks and positions are determined, one must understand the authority that corresponds to them. Knowing the authority that matches the position will prevent danger. The Dao that exists throughout the world is like rivers flowing into seas and oceans.
[Note] ① Although 'simple' (朴) is small: In this chapter, Wang Bi's annotations often mention 'simple,' based on the annotations by He Shang Gong and the addition from the Mawangdui Laozi Yi text.
