第七十七章 Chapter 77天之道其犹张弓欤

第七十七章 Chapter 77
天之道
Is not the way of heaven's divine law
其犹张弓欤？
like the bending of a bow?
高者抑之，
The high string shall be bent
下者举之。
and the bow shall be lifted.
有余者损之，
We take from those who have enough and to spare,
不足者补之。
and give to those who have not enough.
天之道，
In accordance with the divine law,
损有余而补不足。
excess shall be reduced to supplement the insufficient.
人之道则不然，
The human law is otherwise:
损不足以奉有余。
man takes from the poor to give to the rich.
孰能有余以奉天下？
Who could give to the world more than enough?
唯有道者。
Only the follower of the divine law.
是以圣人为而不恃，
So the sage gives without being the giver,
功成而不处，
and succeeds without being the successful,
其不欲见贤。
for he will not be better than others.

Chapter 77史蒂芬米切尔译
As it acts in the world, the Taois like the bending of a bow.The top is bent downward;the bottom is bent up.It adjusts excess and deficiencyso that there is perfect balance.It takes from what is too muchand give to what isn't enough.Those who try to control,who use force to protect their power,go against the direction of the Tao.They take from those who don't have enough and give to those who have far too much.The Master can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth.She acts without expectation,succeeds without taking credit,and doesn't think that she is betterthan anyone else.