Tao Te Ching Ch.54: What Is Planted by the Tao (善抱大道)

善shàn建jiàn者zhě不bù拔bá，善shàn抱bào者zhě不bù脱tuō，子zǐ孙sūn以yǐ祭jì祀sì不bù辍chuò。

1What (Tao's) skilful planter plants Can never be uptorn; What his skilful arms enfold, From him can ne'er be borne.

修xiū之zhī于yú身shēn，其qí德dé乃nǎi真zhēn；修xiū之zhī于yú家jiā，其qí德dé乃nǎi余yú；修xiū之zhī于yú乡xiāng，其qí德dé乃nǎi长cháng；修xiū之zhī于yú邦bāng，其qí德dé乃nǎi丰fēng；修xiū之zhī于yú天tiān下xià，其qí德dé乃nǎi普pǔ。

2Sons shall bring in lengthening line, Sacrifices to his shrine.

3Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue!

4The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, Good fortune will be found.

5Employ it the kingdom o'er, And men thrive all around.

故gù以yǐ身shēn观guān身shēn，以yǐ家jiā观guān家jiā，以yǐ乡xiāng观guān乡xiāng，以yǐ邦bāng观guān邦bāng，以yǐ天tiān下xià观guān天tiān下xià。

6In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom.

吾wú何hé以yǐ知zhī天tiān下xià之zhī然rán哉zāi？

7How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky?

以yǐ此cǐ。

8By this (method of observation).