Chapter IV The divine law is formless

Chapter IV
The divine law is formless, its use is inexhaustible.
It is endless, whence come all things;
where the sharp is blunted, the knots are untied, the glare is softened, all look like dust.
Apparent, it seems to exist.
I do not know whence it came;
it seems to exist before God.

道冲【1】，而用之又不盈也【2】，渊兮似万物之宗【3】。挫其锐【4】，解其纷【5】，和其光【6】，同其尘【7】，湛兮似或存【8】。吾不知其谁之子也【9】，象帝之先【10】。