Acknowledgment of beauty brings forth ugliness,
The knowledge of good creates the possibility of evil,
In this way, what "is" and what "is not" birth one from the other,
That difficulty and ease bring to mind one another,
That length and shortness are sectioned one into the other,
That the idea of height and lowness arise from comparison,
That melodies and tones harmonize through mutual relation,
That being before and being behind create the idea of following and leading.
Therefore the Sage goes about his day effortlessly,
Teaching the Way without words;
All things come about, and he does not turn from them,
He nurtures them, but does not possess them,
He molds them, but does not presume responsibility;
He finishes his tasks, and draws no attention to himself.
It is because he expects no reward,
That his reward will never be taken from him.
