明于天，通于圣，六通四辟于帝王之德者，其自为也，昧然无不静者矣。
Those who clearly understand (the Way of) Heaven, who are in sympathy with (that of) the sages, and familiar through the universe and in the four quarters (of the earth) with the work of the Tîs and the kings, yet act spontaneously from themselves :—with the appearance of being ignorant they are yet entirely still.
圣人之静也，非曰静也善，故静也；万物无足以铙心者，故静也。
The stillness of the sages does not belong to them as a consequence of their skilful ability 473; all things are not able to disturb their minds ;—it is on this account that they are still.
水静则明烛须眉，平中准，大匠取法焉。
When water is still, its clearness shows the beard and eyebrows (of him who looks into it).
水静犹明，而况精神！
It is a perfect Level and the greatest artificer takes his rule from it.
圣人之心静乎！
Such is the clearness of still water, and how much greater is that of the human Spirit!
天地之鑑也；万物之镜也。
The still mind of the sage is the mirror of heaven and earth, the glass of all things.
夫虚静恬淡寂漠无为者，天地之平而道德之至，故帝王圣人休焉。
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness, quietude, silence, and non- action ;—this is the Level of heaven and earth, and the perfection of the Tâo and its characteristics Therefore the Tîs, Kings, and Sages found in this their resting-place 476.
休则虚，虚则实，实则伦矣。
Resting here, they were vacant; from their vacancy came fullness; from their fullness came the nice distinctions (of things).
虚则静，静则动，动则得矣。
From their vacancy came stillness; that stillness was followed by movement; their movements were successful.
静则无为，无为也则任事者责矣。
无为则俞俞，俞俞者忧患不能处，年寿长矣。
From their stillness came their non-action.
夫虚静恬淡寂漠无为者，万物之本也。
Doing-nothing, they devolved the cares of office on their employés.
明此以南乡，尧之为君也；明此以北面，舜之为臣也。
Doing-nothing was accompanied by the feeling of satisfaction.
以此处上，帝王天子之德也；以此处下，玄圣素王之道也。
Where there is that feeling of satisfaction, anxieties and troubles find no place; and the years of life are many.
以此退居而闲游江海，山林之士服；以此进为而抚世，则功大名显而天下一也。
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness, quietude, silence, and doing- nothing are the root of all things.
静而圣，动而王，无为也而尊，朴素而天下莫能与之争美。
When this is understood, we find such a ruler on the throne as Yâo, and such a minister as Shun.
夫明白于天地之德者，此之谓大本大宗，与天和者也；所以均调天下，与人和者也。
When with this a high position is occupied, we find the attributes of the Tîs and kings,—the sons of Heaven; with this in a low position, we find the mysterious sages, the uncrowned kings, with their ways.
与人和者，谓之人乐；与天和者，谓之天乐。
With this retiring (from public life), and enjoying themselves at leisure, we find the scholars who dwell by the rivers and seas, among the hills and forests, all submissive to it ; with this coming forward to active life and comforting their age, their merit is great, and their fame is distinguished ;—and all the world becomes united in one.
庄子曰：“吾师乎！
(Such men) by their stillness become sages ; and by their movement, kings.
吾师乎！
Doing-nothing, they are honoured; in their plain simplicity, no one in the world can strive with them (for the palm of) excellence.
泽及万世而不为仁，长于上古而不为寿，覆载天地刻彫众形而不为巧，此之谓天乐。
The clear understanding of the virtue of Heaven and Earth is what is called ‘The Great Root,’ and ‘The Great Origin;’—they who have it are in harmony with Heaven, and so they produce all equable arrangements in the world ;— they are those who are in harmony with men.
故曰：‘知天乐者，其生也天行，其死也物化。
静而与阴同德，动而与阳同波。
Being in harmony with men is called the Joy of men ; being in harmony with Heaven is called the Joy of Heaven. said, My Master! my Master!
’故知天乐者，无天怨，无人非，无物累，无鬼责。
He shall hash and blend all things in mass without being cruel; he shall dispense his favours to all ages without being benevolent.