As soon as beauty is known as beautiful,
it begets ugly.
As soon as a virtue is known as good,
it begets evil.
Difficult and easy,
accomplish each other.
Long and short,
form each other.
High and low,
distinguish each other.
Sound and tone,
harmonize each other.
Before and after,
follow each other as a sequence.
Being and non-being,
give birth to each other.
Realizing this,
the saint performs effortlessly
according to the natural Way
without personal desire,
and practices wordless teaching
through their actions and deeds.
The saint inspires the vitality of all lives,
without holding back.
(s)he nurtures all beings
with no wish to take possession of.
(s)he devotes all energy,
but has no intention to hold on to the merit.
When success is achieved,
(s)he seeks no recognition.
Because (s)he does not claim credit,
(s)he shall never lose it.