是以万物莫不尊道而贵德。
Therefore Of the ten thousand things there is not one that does not worship Tao and do homage to its “power”.
道之尊,德之贵,夫莫之命而常自然。
No mandate ever went forth that accorded to Tao the right to be worshipped, nor to its “power” the right to be worshipped, nor to its “power” the right to receive homage. #2 It was always and of itself so.
故道生之,德畜之。
Therefore as Tao bore them and the “power” of Tao reared them,
长之育之,亭之毒之,养之覆之。
made them grow, fostered them, harbored them, brewed for them,
生而不有,为而不恃,长而不宰,是谓玄德。
so you must rear them, but not lay claim to them, control them, but never lean upon them, be chief among them, but not manage them.#2 This is called the mysterious power.