Tao Te Ching Ch.77: The Way of Heaven Is a Bow

天tiān之zhī道dào，其qí犹yóu张zhāng弓gōng与yǔ？

1May not the Way (or Tao) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow?

高gāo者zhě抑yì之zhī，下xià者zhě举jǔ之zhī；有yǒu余yú者zhě损sǔn之zhī，不bù足zú者zhě补bǔ之zhī。

2The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up.

3(So Heaven) diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.

天tiān之zhī道dào，损sǔn有yǒu余yú而ér补bǔ不bù足zú。

4It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency.

人rén之zhī道dào，则zé不bù然rán，损sǔn不bù足zú以yǐ奉fèng有yǒu余yú。

5It is not so with the way of man.

6He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.

孰shú能néng有yǒu余yú以yǐ奉fèng天tiān下xià？

7Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven?

唯wéi有yǒu道dào者zhě。

8Only he who is in possession of the Tao!

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén为wéi而ér不bù恃shì，功gōng成chéng而ér不bù处chǔ，其qí不bù欲yù见jiàn贤xián。

9Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:--he does not wish to display his superiority.