Tao Te Ching Ch.74: The People Do Not Fear Death (民不畏死)

民mín不bù畏wèi死sǐ，奈nài何hé以yǐ死sǐ惧jù之zhī？

1The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death?

若ruò使shǐ民mín常cháng畏wèi死sǐ，而ér为wéi奇qí者zhě，吾wú得dé执zhí而ér杀shā之zhī，孰shú敢gǎn？

2If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?

常cháng有yǒu司sī杀shā者zhě杀shā。

3There is always One who presides over the infliction of death.

夫fú代dài司sī杀shā者zhě杀shā，是shì谓wèi代dài大dà匠jiàng斫zhuó。

4He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter.

夫fú代dài大dà匠jiàng斫zhuó者zhě，希xī有yǒu不bù伤shāng其qí手shǒu矣yǐ。

5Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!