道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。
1The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things.
万物负阴而抱阳，冲气以为和。
2All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy.
人之所恶，唯孤、寡、不榖，而王公以为称。
3What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves.
故物或损之而益，或益之而损。
4So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.
人之所教，我亦教之，强梁者不得其死，吾将以为教父。
5What other men (thus) teach, I also teach.
6The violent and strong do not die their natural death.
7I will make this the basis of my teaching.