Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 49 Chapter 51 Back to index #

Ch. 50	Sentence 1
Beck	Coming into life and going out at death,
Blackney	On leaving life, to enter death:
Bynner	Death might appear to be the issue of life,
Byrn	Those who leave the womb at birth and those who enter their source at death,
Chan	Man comes in to life and goes out to death.
Cleary	Exiting life, we enter death.
Crowley	Man comes into life, And returns again into death.
Hansen	We emerge into life and enter into death.
LaFargue	"Setting out to live is entering into death."
Legge	Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die.
Lindauer	Life going out, death entering
LinYutan	Out of life, death enters.
Mabry	From birth to death,
McDonald	He who aims at life could achieve his death. Out of living, death pops up. Who comes to life can go to death.
Merel	Men flow into life, and ebb into death.
Mitchell	The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings.
Muller	Coming into life and entering death,
Red Pine	Appearing means life disappearing means death
Ta-Kao	Men go out of life and enter into death.
Walker	Between their births and their deaths,
Wieger	Men go forth into life, And return in death.
World	From birth to death
Wu	When one is out of Life, one is in Death.

Ch. 50 Sentence 2

Beck the organs of life are thirteen; the organs of death are thirteen; and these thirteen make life vulnerable to death. Why is this so? Because they feed life too grossly.

Blackney Thirteen members form a living body; A corpse has thirteen, too: Thirteen spots by which a man may pass From life to death. Why so? Because his way of life Is much too gross.

Bynner Since for every three out of ten being born Three out of ten are dying. They why Should another three out of ten continue breeding death? Because of sheer madness to multiply.

Byrn of these; three out of ten celebrate life, three out of ten celebrate death, and three out of ten simply go from life to death. What is the reason for this? Because they are afraid of dying, therefore they can not live.

Chan Three out of ten are companions of life. Three out of ten are companions of death. And three out of ten in their lives lead from activity to death. And for what reason? Because of man's intensive striving after life.

Cleary The followers of life are three out of ten, the followers of death are three out of ten; in the lives of the people, the dying grounds on which they are agitated are also three out of ten. What is the reason? Because of the seriousness with which they take life as life.

Crowley Three men in ten conserve life; three men in ten pursue death. Three men also in ten desire to live, but their acts hasten their journey to the home of death. Why is this? Because of their efforts to preserve life.

Hansen Of life's associates, ten have three. Of death's associates, ten have three. People's being alive, death ground's activities also ten have three. Now, why is this? Because they 'life' the thickness of life.

LaFargue "Thirteen are the life givers thirteen are the death bringers." The thirteen body parts are also death spots in people's life and activity? Why? Because they live life so lavishly.

Legge Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death. There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death. And for what reason? Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.

Lindauer There is living following 13 There is dying following 13.The life of man strives toward the realm of death, also 13. Why is it so in the end? It happens, it is life lived thickly.

LinYutan The companions (organs) of life are thirteen; The companions (organs) of death are (also) thirteen. What send man to death in this life are also (these) thirteen. How is it so? Because of the intense activity of multiplying life.

Mabry Three people out of ten are celebrators of Life. Three people out of ten are advocates of Death. The rest simply move numbly from cradle to grave. Why is this? Because they are overly protective of this life.

McDonald If three out of ten are life companions, then the same number are death companions as well. As such the latter are labelled death-spots: some take life, through activity, to death. How is it? Its much due to men's intensive striving after life; in part the intense activity of multiplying life. Some do feed life too grossly.

Merel Some are filled with life; Some are empty with death; Some hold fast to life, and thereby perish, For life is an abstraction.

Mitchell He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being.

Muller The followers of life are three in ten. The followers of death are three in ten. Those whose life activity is their death ground are three in ten. Why is this? Because they live life grasping for its rich taste.

Red Pine thirteen are the followers of life thirteen are the followers of death but people living to live join the land of death's thirteen and why because they live to live

Ta-Kao The parts (proportions) of life are three in ten; the parts of death are also three in ten. Men that from birth move towards the region of death are also three in ten. Why is it so? Because of their redundant effort in seeking to live.

Walker three out of ten are attached to life, three out of ten are attached to death, three out of ten are just idly passing through. Only one knows how to die and stay dead and still go on living.

Wieger Out of ten men, three prolong their life (through cleanliness), three hasten their death (through their excesses), three compromise their life by the attachment they have to it, (And only one stays alive until his term, because he is not attached to it).

World Three in ten are manifesting life, Three in ten are disintegrating into death, and three in ten are between, manifesting life and disintegrating into death. Why? Because the vast majority of humanity distinguishes life and death.

Wu The Companions of life are thirteen; the companions of Death are thirteen; And, when a living person moves into the Realm of Death, his companions are also thirteen. How is this? Because he draws upon the resources of Life too heavily.

Ch. 50 Sentence 3

Beck It is said that those who preserve life walk the earth without fearing tigers and wild buffalo, and in battle they are not touched by weapons of war.

Blackney As I have heard, the man who knows On land how best to be at peace Will never meet a tiger or a buffalo; In battle, weapons do not touch his skin.

Bynner But there is one out of ten, so sure of life That tiger and wild bull keep clear of his inland path, Weapons turn from him on the battle-field,

Byrn I have heard that those who celebrate life walk safely among the wild animals. When they go into battle, they remain unharmed. The animals find no place to attack them and the weapons are unable to harm them.

Chan I have heard that one who is a good preserver of his life will not meet tigers or wild buffaloes, And in fighting will not try to escape from weapons of war.

Cleary It has been said that those who maintain life well do not meet rhinos or tigers on land and do not arm themselves in war.

Crowley But this I have heard. He that is wise in the economy of his life, whereof he is warden for a season, journeys with no need to avoid the tiger or the rhinoceros, And goes uncorseleted among the warriors with no fear of sword or lance.

Hansen In general, when we hear about those worthy to abet life: They walk the earth without encountering rhinoceros or tiger. They enter the army and don't bear armour or weapons.

LaFargue So we hear: One who Excels at fostering life "travels on land without meeting rhinoceros or tiger enters combat without armour or weapon."

Legge But I have heard that he who is skillful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon.

Lindauer As a fact it is well known that those skilled in preserving life Travel the land without running into rhinos and tigers The militia enters and the strategy is to lack armor.

LinYutan It has been said that the who is a good preserver of hi life Meets no tigers or wild buffaloes on land, Is not vulnerable to weapons in the field of battle.

Mabry It is said that one who knows how to protect his life can walk freely without fear of the wild buffalo or tiger. He may meet an army bravely with neither sword nor shield.

McDonald It's said that he who is a good preserver of his life can meet no tigers or wild buffaloes on land. Such a one could have a true hold on life, If so, in battle or fighting he should hardly try to escape from weapons. He should neither get very much touched nor vulnerable to weapons in battle. [Cf. don't be there]

Merel Those who are filled with life Need not fear tigers and rhinos in the wilds, Nor wear armour and shields in battle;

Mitchell He holds nothing back from life; therefore he is ready for death, as a man is ready for sleep after a good day's work.

Muller Now I have heard that those who are expert in handling life Can travel the land without meeting tigers and rhinos, Can enter battle without being wounded.

Red Pine it's said that those who guard life well aren't injured by soldiers in battle or harmed by rhinos or tigers in the wild

Ta-Kao But only those who do nothing for the purpose of living are better than those who prize their lives. For I have heard that he who knows well how to conserve life, when traveling on land, does not meet the rhinoceros or the tiger; when going to a battle he is not attacked by arms and weapons.

Walker That one hasn't any ambitions, hasn't any ideas, makes no plans. From this mysterious place of not-knowing and non-doing he gives birth to whatever is needed in the moment. Because he is constantly filling his being with nonbeing, he can travel the wilds without worrying about tigers or wild buffalo, or he can cross a battlefield without armour or weapon.

Wieger He who is not attached to his life, does not turn aside to avoid an encounter with a rhinoceros or a tiger; he throws himself into the fray without armour or weapons;

World The person who is at one with all things can go anywhere without fear of vicious animals or dangerous persons

Wu It is said that he who knows well how to live meets no tigers or wild buffaloes on his road, And comes out from the battle-ground untouched by the weapons of war.

Ch. 50 Sentence 4

Beck The wild buffalo's horns find nothing to gore; the tiger's claws find nothing to tear; and weapons' points find nothing to pierce. Why is this so? Because they have nothing for death to enter.

Blackney There is no place the tiger's claws can grip; Or with his horn, the buffalo can jab; Or where the soldier can insert his sword. Why so? In him there is no place of death.

Bynner No bull-horn could tell where to gore him, No tiger-claw where to tear him, No weapon where to enter him And why? Because he has no death to die.

Byrn Why? Because they can find no place for death in them.

Chan The wild buffalo cannot butt its horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its claws in him, And weapons of war cannot thrust their blades into him. And for what reason? Because in him there is no room for death.

Cleary There is no way for rhinos to gore them; there is no way for tigers to claw them; there is no way for weapons to get at them. Why? Because they have no dying ground.

Crowley The rhinoceros finds in him no place vulnerable to its horn, the tiger to its claws, the weapon to its point. Why is this? Because there is no house of death in his whole body.

Hansen The rhinoceros has no place to thrust its horn. The tiger has no place to wield its claws. Arms have no place to accommodate their points. Now, why is this? Because they lack death's ground.

LaFargue The rhinoceros finds no place to jab its horn the tiger finds no place to lay its claws a weapon finds no place where its point can enter. Why? Because he has no death spot.

Legge The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point. And for what reason? Because there is in him no place of death.

Lindauer The rhino is absent of a place to thrust its horn The tiger is absent of a place to affix its claw The army is absent of a place to admit its blade. Why is it so in the end? It happens, they are absent of the realm of death.

LinYutan The horns of the wild buffalo are powerless against him. How is it so? Because he is beyond death.

Mabry For the buffalo will find no place to sink its horns, The tiger finds no place to dig his claws, Weapons find no soft place to pierce./ Why? Because there is no place for death in him.

McDonald The wild buffalo cannot butt its powerless horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its then useless claws in him and tear him apart, And much absent weapons of war should find no place to enter - cannot thrust their blades into him. [The absent part is always to blame. Demagogy] And why? (Demagogy, that's why] In him there's no room for death because he is beyond death. Others find no Achilles heel in him then and there.

Merel The rhinoceros finds no place in them for its horn, The tiger no place for its claw, The soldier no place for a weapon, For death finds no place in them.

Mitchell

Muller The rhino has no place to plant its horn, The tiger has no place to place its claws, Weapons find no place to receive their sharp edges. Why? Because he has no death-ground.

Red Pine for rhinos have nowhere to sink their horns tigers have nowhere to sink their claws and soldiers have nowhere to sink their blades and why because for them there is no land of death

Ta-Kao The rhinoceros can find nowhere to drive his horn; the tiger can find nowhere to put his claws; the weapons can find nowhere to thrust their blades. Why is it so? Because he is beyond the region of death.

Walker No tiger can claw him. No buffalo can gore him. No weapon can pierce him. Why is this so? Because he has died, there isn't any more room for death in him.

Wieger And he comes to no harm because he is proof against the rhinoceros horn, the tiger's claws, And weapons of combat. Why is this? ... Because, exteriorized through his indifference, death cannot take a hold on him.

World Why? Because she is at one with the wild animals, they perceive her as themselves. Because she is at one with dangerous persons, they fear her.

Wu For, in him, a buffalo would find no butt for his horns, a tiger nothing to lay his claws upon, And a weapon of war no place to admit its point. How is this? Because there is no room for Death in him.

Ch. 50	Sentence 2
Beck	the organs of life are thirteen; the organs of death are thirteen; and these thirteen make life vulnerable to death. Why is this so? Because they feed life too grossly.
Blackney	Thirteen members form a living body; A corpse has thirteen, too: Thirteen spots by which a man may pass From life to death. Why so? Because his way of life Is much too gross.
Bynner	Since for every three out of ten being born Three out of ten are dying. They why Should another three out of ten continue breeding death? Because of sheer madness to multiply.
Byrn	of these; three out of ten celebrate life, three out of ten celebrate death, and three out of ten simply go from life to death. What is the reason for this? Because they are afraid of dying, therefore they can not live.
Chan	Three out of ten are companions of life. Three out of ten are companions of death. And three out of ten in their lives lead from activity to death. And for what reason? Because of man's intensive striving after life.
Cleary	The followers of life are three out of ten, the followers of death are three out of ten; in the lives of the people, the dying grounds on which they are agitated are also three out of ten. What is the reason? Because of the seriousness with which they take life as life.
Crowley	Three men in ten conserve life; three men in ten pursue death. Three men also in ten desire to live, but their acts hasten their journey to the home of death. Why is this? Because of their efforts to preserve life.
Hansen	Of life's associates, ten have three. Of death's associates, ten have three. People's being alive, death ground's activities also ten have three. Now, why is this? Because they 'life' the thickness of life.
LaFargue	"Thirteen are the life givers thirteen are the death bringers." The thirteen body parts are also death spots in people's life and activity? Why? Because they live life so lavishly.
Legge	Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death. There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death. And for what reason? Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.
Lindauer	There is living following 13 There is dying following 13.The life of man strives toward the realm of death, also 13. Why is it so in the end? It happens, it is life lived thickly.
LinYutan	The companions (organs) of life are thirteen; The companions (organs) of death are (also) thirteen. What send man to death in this life are also (these) thirteen. How is it so? Because of the intense activity of multiplying life.
Mabry	Three people out of ten are celebrators of Life. Three people out of ten are advocates of Death. The rest simply move numbly from cradle to grave. Why is this? Because they are overly protective of this life.
McDonald	If three out of ten are life companions, then the same number are death companions as well. As such the latter are labelled death-spots: some take life, through activity, to death. How is it? Its much due to men's intensive striving after life; in part the intense activity of multiplying life. Some do feed life too grossly.
Merel	Some are filled with life; Some are empty with death; Some hold fast to life, and thereby perish, For life is an abstraction.
Mitchell	He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being.
Muller	The followers of life are three in ten. The followers of death are three in ten. Those whose life activity is their death ground are three in ten. Why is this? Because they live life grasping for its rich taste.
Red Pine	thirteen are the followers of life thirteen are the followers of death but people living to live join the land of death's thirteen and why because they live to live
Ta-Kao	The parts (proportions) of life are three in ten; the parts of death are also three in ten. Men that from birth move towards the region of death are also three in ten. Why is it so? Because of their redundant effort in seeking to live.
Walker	three out of ten are attached to life, three out of ten are attached to death, three out of ten are just idly passing through. Only one knows how to die and stay dead and still go on living.
Wieger	Out of ten men, three prolong their life (through cleanliness), three hasten their death (through their excesses), three compromise their life by the attachment they have to it, (And only one stays alive until his term, because he is not attached to it).
World	Three in ten are manifesting life, Three in ten are disintegrating into death, and three in ten are between, manifesting life and disintegrating into death. Why? Because the vast majority of humanity distinguishes life and death.
Wu	The Companions of life are thirteen; the companions of Death are thirteen; And, when a living person moves into the Realm of Death, his companions are also thirteen. How is this? Because he draws upon the resources of Life too heavily.

Ch. 50	Sentence 3
Beck	It is said that those who preserve life walk the earth without fearing tigers and wild buffalo, and in battle they are not touched by weapons of war.
Blackney	As I have heard, the man who knows On land how best to be at peace Will never meet a tiger or a buffalo; In battle, weapons do not touch his skin.
Bynner	But there is one out of ten, so sure of life That tiger and wild bull keep clear of his inland path, Weapons turn from him on the battle-field,
Byrn	I have heard that those who celebrate life walk safely among the wild animals. When they go into battle, they remain unharmed. The animals find no place to attack them and the weapons are unable to harm them.
Chan	I have heard that one who is a good preserver of his life will not meet tigers or wild buffaloes, And in fighting will not try to escape from weapons of war.
Cleary	It has been said that those who maintain life well do not meet rhinos or tigers on land and do not arm themselves in war.
Crowley	But this I have heard. He that is wise in the economy of his life, whereof he is warden for a season, journeys with no need to avoid the tiger or the rhinoceros, And goes uncorseleted among the warriors with no fear of sword or lance.
Hansen	In general, when we hear about those worthy to abet life: They walk the earth without encountering rhinoceros or tiger. They enter the army and don't bear armour or weapons.
LaFargue	So we hear: One who Excels at fostering life "travels on land without meeting rhinoceros or tiger enters combat without armour or weapon."
Legge	But I have heard that he who is skillful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon.
Lindauer	As a fact it is well known that those skilled in preserving life Travel the land without running into rhinos and tigers The militia enters and the strategy is to lack armor.
LinYutan	It has been said that the who is a good preserver of hi life Meets no tigers or wild buffaloes on land, Is not vulnerable to weapons in the field of battle.
Mabry	It is said that one who knows how to protect his life can walk freely without fear of the wild buffalo or tiger. He may meet an army bravely with neither sword nor shield.
McDonald	It's said that he who is a good preserver of his life can meet no tigers or wild buffaloes on land. Such a one could have a true hold on life, If so, in battle or fighting he should hardly try to escape from weapons. He should neither get very much touched nor vulnerable to weapons in battle. [Cf. don't be there]
Merel	Those who are filled with life Need not fear tigers and rhinos in the wilds, Nor wear armour and shields in battle;
Mitchell	He holds nothing back from life; therefore he is ready for death, as a man is ready for sleep after a good day's work.
Muller	Now I have heard that those who are expert in handling life Can travel the land without meeting tigers and rhinos, Can enter battle without being wounded.
Red Pine	it's said that those who guard life well aren't injured by soldiers in battle or harmed by rhinos or tigers in the wild
Ta-Kao	But only those who do nothing for the purpose of living are better than those who prize their lives. For I have heard that he who knows well how to conserve life, when traveling on land, does not meet the rhinoceros or the tiger; when going to a battle he is not attacked by arms and weapons.
Walker	That one hasn't any ambitions, hasn't any ideas, makes no plans. From this mysterious place of not-knowing and non-doing he gives birth to whatever is needed in the moment. Because he is constantly filling his being with nonbeing, he can travel the wilds without worrying about tigers or wild buffalo, or he can cross a battlefield without armour or weapon.
Wieger	He who is not attached to his life, does not turn aside to avoid an encounter with a rhinoceros or a tiger; he throws himself into the fray without armour or weapons;
World	The person who is at one with all things can go anywhere without fear of vicious animals or dangerous persons
Wu	It is said that he who knows well how to live meets no tigers or wild buffaloes on his road, And comes out from the battle-ground untouched by the weapons of war.

Ch. 50	Sentence 4
Beck	The wild buffalo's horns find nothing to gore; the tiger's claws find nothing to tear; and weapons' points find nothing to pierce. Why is this so? Because they have nothing for death to enter.
Blackney	There is no place the tiger's claws can grip; Or with his horn, the buffalo can jab; Or where the soldier can insert his sword. Why so? In him there is no place of death.
Bynner	No bull-horn could tell where to gore him, No tiger-claw where to tear him, No weapon where to enter him And why? Because he has no death to die.
Byrn	Why? Because they can find no place for death in them.
Chan	The wild buffalo cannot butt its horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its claws in him, And weapons of war cannot thrust their blades into him. And for what reason? Because in him there is no room for death.
Cleary	There is no way for rhinos to gore them; there is no way for tigers to claw them; there is no way for weapons to get at them. Why? Because they have no dying ground.
Crowley	The rhinoceros finds in him no place vulnerable to its horn, the tiger to its claws, the weapon to its point. Why is this? Because there is no house of death in his whole body.
Hansen	The rhinoceros has no place to thrust its horn. The tiger has no place to wield its claws. Arms have no place to accommodate their points. Now, why is this? Because they lack death's ground.
LaFargue	The rhinoceros finds no place to jab its horn the tiger finds no place to lay its claws a weapon finds no place where its point can enter. Why? Because he has no death spot.
Legge	The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point. And for what reason? Because there is in him no place of death.
Lindauer	The rhino is absent of a place to thrust its horn The tiger is absent of a place to affix its claw The army is absent of a place to admit its blade. Why is it so in the end? It happens, they are absent of the realm of death.
LinYutan	The horns of the wild buffalo are powerless against him. How is it so? Because he is beyond death.
Mabry	For the buffalo will find no place to sink its horns, The tiger finds no place to dig his claws, Weapons find no soft place to pierce./ Why? Because there is no place for death in him.
McDonald	The wild buffalo cannot butt its powerless horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its then useless claws in him and tear him apart, And much absent weapons of war should find no place to enter - cannot thrust their blades into him. [The absent part is always to blame. Demagogy] And why? (Demagogy, that's why] In him there's no room for death because he is beyond death. Others find no Achilles heel in him then and there.
Merel	The rhinoceros finds no place in them for its horn, The tiger no place for its claw, The soldier no place for a weapon, For death finds no place in them.
Mitchell
Muller	The rhino has no place to plant its horn, The tiger has no place to place its claws, Weapons find no place to receive their sharp edges. Why? Because he has no death-ground.
Red Pine	for rhinos have nowhere to sink their horns tigers have nowhere to sink their claws and soldiers have nowhere to sink their blades and why because for them there is no land of death
Ta-Kao	The rhinoceros can find nowhere to drive his horn; the tiger can find nowhere to put his claws; the weapons can find nowhere to thrust their blades. Why is it so? Because he is beyond the region of death.
Walker	No tiger can claw him. No buffalo can gore him. No weapon can pierce him. Why is this so? Because he has died, there isn't any more room for death in him.
Wieger	And he comes to no harm because he is proof against the rhinoceros horn, the tiger's claws, And weapons of combat. Why is this? ... Because, exteriorized through his indifference, death cannot take a hold on him.
World	Why? Because she is at one with the wild animals, they perceive her as themselves. Because she is at one with dangerous persons, they fear her.
Wu	For, in him, a buffalo would find no butt for his horns, a tiger nothing to lay his claws upon, And a weapon of war no place to admit its point. How is this? Because there is no room for Death in him.