Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 52 Chapter 54 Back to index #

Ch. 53	Sentence 1
Beck	Those with even a scrap of sense walk on the main way and fear only straying from the path.
Blackney	When I am walking on the mighty Way, Let me but know the very least I may, And I shall only fear to leave the road.
Bynner	If I had any learning Of a highway wide and fit, Would I lose it at each turning?
Byrn	If I understood only one thing, I would want to use it to follow the Tao. My only fear would be one of pride.
Chan	If I had but little knowledge I should, in walking on a broad way, Fear getting off the road.
Cleary	Causing one flashes of knowledge to travel the Great Way, only its application demands care.
Crowley	Were I discovered by men, And charged with government, my first fear would be lest I should become proud.
Hansen	Let me suddenly have some know-how To exercise on The Great Guide - Only helping it - this I fear!
LaFargue	if I had the least bit of understanding I would walk on the great Way. Only display will be dangerous.
Legge	If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.
Lindauer	Supposing myself to have as little knowledge as I do I am doing things relating to great tao It alone imposes appropriate respect.
LinYutan	If I were possessed of Austere Knowledge, Walking on the Main Path (Tao), I would avoid the by-paths.
Mabry	If I possess even a little wisdom Then while I walk in the light of the Tao My only fear is that I'll fall into "doing."
McDonald	Once started on the great [lax] highway, if I had but little [Vossing] knowledge I should, in walking on a broad way, fear getting off the road. On the main path (dao), I would avoid the by-paths.
Merel	With but a small understanding One may follow the Way like a main road, Fearing only to leave it;
Mitchell	Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao.
Muller	If I had just a little bit of wisdom I should walk the Great Path and fear only straying from it.
Red Pine	Were I sufficiently wise I would follow the Great Way and only fear going astray
Ta-Kao	Let me have sound knowledge and walk on the great way (Tao); Only I am in fear of deviating.
Walker	Because I have a little wisdom, I choose to walk the great path of Tao and fear nothing except to stray from it.
Wieger	He who has little wisdom, should conform himself to the great Principle. He should take care to avoid any irksome boasting.
World	If I possess just a bit of insight, I will remember my oneness with Infinity, and I will only be concerned that I may become confused with distinctions and judgment.
Wu	If only I had the tiniest grain of wisdom, I should walk in the Great Way, And my only fear would be to stray from it.

Ch. 53 Sentence 2

Beck The main way is smooth and easy, but people like to be side-tracked.

Blackney The mighty Way is easy underfoot, But people still prefer the little paths.

Bynner Yet look at people spurning Natural use of it!

Byrn The Tao goes in the level places, but people prefer to take the short cuts.

Chan Broad ways are extremely even, But people are fond of bypaths.

Cleary The Great Way is quite even, yet people prefer byways.

Crowley The true Path is level and smooth; but men love by-paths.

Hansen The Great Guide is profoundly smooth and people easily track it.

LaFargue The great Way is very smooth but people love bypaths.

Legge The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.

Lindauer Great tao is very even yet people are fond of byways

LinYutan the Main path is easy to walk on, Yet people love the small by-paths.

Mabry The path of the Tao is obvious and simple, But most people prefer to take short-cuts.

McDonald Some dao main path is easy to walk [or drift] on, but safe and easy. All the same people are fond, men love by-paths, love even small by-paths:

Merel Following a main road is easy, Yet people delight in difficult paths.

Mitchell The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths.

Muller Though the Way is quite broad People love shortcuts.

Red Pine the Great Way is smooth but people love byways

Ta-Kao The great way is very plain and easy, But the people prefer by-paths.

Walker The great way is very smooth and easy, but some people are fond of getting sidetracked.

Wieger But to this wide road many prefer the narrow sidetracks. (Few men walk along the way of obscure disinterestedness. They prefer the narrow tracks of their vanity, their own advantage. This is how the princes of these times act).

World The path of Infinity is easy and peaceful. But the majority of people cannot help becoming confused in the manifestations of the Infinite.

Wu The Great Way is very smooth and straight; And yet the people prefer devious paths.

Ch. 53 Sentence 3

Beck While the courts are arrayed in splendor, the fields are full of weeds, and the granaries are empty.

Blackney The royal court is dignified, sedate, While farmers' fields are overgrown with weeds; The granaries are empty

Bynner See how fine the palaces And see how poor the farms, How bare the peasants' granaries

Byrn If too much time is spent cleaning the house the land will become neglected and full of weeds, and the granaries will soon become empty because there is no one out working the fields.

Chan The courts are exceedingly splendid, While the fields are exceedingly weedy, And the granaries are exceedingly empty.

Cleary When courts are extremely fastidious, the fields are seriously neglected, and the granaries are very empty;

Crowley They adorn their courts, but they neglect their fields, And leave their storehouses empty.

Hansen The palace is profoundly stripped. Fields are profoundly overgrown. Granaries are profoundly bare.

LaFargue The court is very well kept the fields are very weedy the granaries very empty.

Legge Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty.

Lindauer Courts are very divided Fields are very weedy Granaries are very empty

LinYutan The (official) courts are spic and span, (While) the fields go untilled, And the (people's) granaries are very low.

Mabry The courts of law are far from the people's hearts. The fields are full of weeds, And the storehouses are empty.

McDonald The by-path courts are spick-and-span. And the fields go untilled, nay, exceedingly weedy. They're content to let their fields run to weed. All the while granaries stand quite empty and some exceedingly empty.

Merel When palaces are kept up Fields are left to weeds And granaries empty;

Mitchell When rich speculators prosper

Muller The court is immaculate, While the fields are overgrown with weeds, And the granaries are empty.

Red Pine their palaces are spotless their fields are overgrown and their granaries are empty

Ta-Kao While the royal palaces are very well kept, The fields are left weedy And the granaries empty.

Walker When a ruler's palace is full of treasure, the people's fields are weedy and their granaries are empty.

Wieger When the palaces are too well kept up, the fields go uncultivated and the granaries empty, (because the farm workers are requisitioned for forced labour).

World When rulers and leaders are confused in pomp and circumstance, the fields are overgrown with weeds and the granaries are empty.

Wu The court is very clean and well garnished, But the fields are weedy and wild, And the granaries are very empty!

Ch. 53 Sentence 4

Beck Yet some wear embroidered clothes, carry sharp swords, over-indulge themselves with food and drink, and have more possessions than they can use. They are leaders in robbery. This is not the Way.

Blackney and yet they Are clad in rich-embroidered silken gowns. They have sharp swords suspended at their sides; With glutted wealth, they gorge with food and drink. It is, the people say, The boastfulness of brigandage, But surely not the Way!

Bynner While gentry wear embroideries Hiding sharpened arms, And the more they have the more they seize, How can there be such men as these Who never hunger, never thirst Yet eat and drink until they burst! There are other brigands, but these are the worst Of all the highway's harms.

Byrn To wear fancy clothes and ornaments, to have your fill of food and drink and to waste all of your money buying possessions is called the crime of excess. Oh, how these things go against the way of the Tao!

Chan Elegant clothes are worn, Sharp weapons are carried, Food and drinks are enjoyed beyond limit, And wealth and treasures are accumulated in excess. This is robbery and extravagance. This is indeed not Tao (the Way).

Cleary They wear colorful clothing and carry sharp swords, eat and drink their fill and possess more than enough. This is called the vanity of thieves; it is not the Way.

Crowley They wear elaborate and embroidered robes; they gird themselves with sharp swords; they eat and drink with luxury; they heap up goods; they are thievish and vainglorious. All this is opposite to the Way of the Dao.

Hansen Clothes embroidered colourfully. Belts have sharp swords. Bored of drink and food. Wealth and commodities are excessive. This is called 'stealing.' Exaggeration! Not a guide!

LaFargue "Their clothes are fine and colourful on their belts are sharp swords, they are filled with food and drink" a superabundance of expensive goods. This is robbers boasting, certainly not the Way.

Legge They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth; - such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!

Lindauer Clothes are ornamented and patterned Sharp swords are worn Food and drink satiate Money and goods are present in surplus. Appropriately called robbery, extravagance This way is also not tao.

LinYutan (Yet) clad in embroidered gowns, And carrying find swords, Surfeited with good food and drinks, (They are) splitting with wealth and possessions. - This is to lead the world toward brigandage. Is this not corruption of Tao?

Mabry But look, here are officials in elegant apparel carrying sharp swords Eating and drinking until they are bloated, Possessed of such wealth that they could never use it all. I call this positively criminal. It is not the way of the Tao.

McDonald They have elegant, in clothes and gown to wear, some furnished with patterns and embroideries, Some carry sharp weapons, glut themselves with drink and foods enjoyed beyond limit, And wealth and treasures are accumulated in excess, owning far more than they can handle and use. This is to [molest] the world towards brigandage, it's robbery as extravagance. In the end they're splitting with wealth and possessions. Wealth splits, tends to. This cannot be a highway of dao (the way).

Merel Wearing fine clothes, Bearing sharp swords, Glutting with food and drink, Hoarding wealth and possessions - These are the ways of theft, And far from the Way.

Mitchell While farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn - all this is robbery and chaos. It is not in keeping with the Tao.

Muller They wear silk finery, Carry sharp swords, Sate themselves on food and drink Having wealth in excess. They are called thieving braggarts. This is definitely not the Way.

Red Pine they wear fine clothes they carry sharp swords they tire of food and drink and possess more than they need this is called robbery and robbery is not the Way

Ta-Kao To wear embroidered clothes, To carry sharp swords, To be satiated in drink and food, To be possessed of redundant riches - This is called encouragement to robbery. Is it not deviating from Tao?

If the ruler wears fancy clothes and his house is full of weapons, if his table is laden with extravagant food and drink and everywhere one looks he has more wealth than he can use, the ruler is a robber and thief. This is not in keeping with Tao.

Wieger Dressing magnificently, wearing a sharp sword, stuffing oneself with food and drink, amassing wealth to the extent of not knowing what to do with it (as do the princes of these times), is being like a brigand (who ostentatiously plays with his loot). Such conduct is opposed to the Principle.

World When leaders and rulers wear extravagant clothing and manipulate the law while attending endless banquets and accumulating wealth for the sake of wealth, they are confused and behave like bandits and thieves. This is not the path of peace and harmony.

Wu They wear gorgeous clothes, They carry sharp swords, They surfeit themselves with food and drink, They possess more riches than they can use! They are the heralds of brigandage! As for Tao, what do they know about it?

Ch. 53	Sentence 2
Beck	The main way is smooth and easy, but people like to be side-tracked.
Blackney	The mighty Way is easy underfoot, But people still prefer the little paths.
Bynner	Yet look at people spurning Natural use of it!
Byrn	The Tao goes in the level places, but people prefer to take the short cuts.
Chan	Broad ways are extremely even, But people are fond of bypaths.
Cleary	The Great Way is quite even, yet people prefer byways.
Crowley	The true Path is level and smooth; but men love by-paths.
Hansen	The Great Guide is profoundly smooth and people easily track it.
LaFargue	The great Way is very smooth but people love bypaths.
Legge	The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.
Lindauer	Great tao is very even yet people are fond of byways
LinYutan	the Main path is easy to walk on, Yet people love the small by-paths.
Mabry	The path of the Tao is obvious and simple, But most people prefer to take short-cuts.
McDonald	Some dao main path is easy to walk [or drift] on, but safe and easy. All the same people are fond, men love by-paths, love even small by-paths:
Merel	Following a main road is easy, Yet people delight in difficult paths.
Mitchell	The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths.
Muller	Though the Way is quite broad People love shortcuts.
Red Pine	the Great Way is smooth but people love byways
Ta-Kao	The great way is very plain and easy, But the people prefer by-paths.
Walker	The great way is very smooth and easy, but some people are fond of getting sidetracked.
Wieger	But to this wide road many prefer the narrow sidetracks. (Few men walk along the way of obscure disinterestedness. They prefer the narrow tracks of their vanity, their own advantage. This is how the princes of these times act).
World	The path of Infinity is easy and peaceful. But the majority of people cannot help becoming confused in the manifestations of the Infinite.
Wu	The Great Way is very smooth and straight; And yet the people prefer devious paths.

Ch. 53	Sentence 3
Beck	While the courts are arrayed in splendor, the fields are full of weeds, and the granaries are empty.
Blackney	The royal court is dignified, sedate, While farmers' fields are overgrown with weeds; The granaries are empty
Bynner	See how fine the palaces And see how poor the farms, How bare the peasants' granaries
Byrn	If too much time is spent cleaning the house the land will become neglected and full of weeds, and the granaries will soon become empty because there is no one out working the fields.
Chan	The courts are exceedingly splendid, While the fields are exceedingly weedy, And the granaries are exceedingly empty.
Cleary	When courts are extremely fastidious, the fields are seriously neglected, and the granaries are very empty;
Crowley	They adorn their courts, but they neglect their fields, And leave their storehouses empty.
Hansen	The palace is profoundly stripped. Fields are profoundly overgrown. Granaries are profoundly bare.
LaFargue	The court is very well kept the fields are very weedy the granaries very empty.
Legge	Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty.
Lindauer	Courts are very divided Fields are very weedy Granaries are very empty
LinYutan	The (official) courts are spic and span, (While) the fields go untilled, And the (people's) granaries are very low.
Mabry	The courts of law are far from the people's hearts. The fields are full of weeds, And the storehouses are empty.
McDonald	The by-path courts are spick-and-span. And the fields go untilled, nay, exceedingly weedy. They're content to let their fields run to weed. All the while granaries stand quite empty and some exceedingly empty.
Merel	When palaces are kept up Fields are left to weeds And granaries empty;
Mitchell	When rich speculators prosper
Muller	The court is immaculate, While the fields are overgrown with weeds, And the granaries are empty.
Red Pine	their palaces are spotless their fields are overgrown and their granaries are empty
Ta-Kao	While the royal palaces are very well kept, The fields are left weedy And the granaries empty.
Walker	When a ruler's palace is full of treasure, the people's fields are weedy and their granaries are empty.
Wieger	When the palaces are too well kept up, the fields go uncultivated and the granaries empty, (because the farm workers are requisitioned for forced labour).
World	When rulers and leaders are confused in pomp and circumstance, the fields are overgrown with weeds and the granaries are empty.
Wu	The court is very clean and well garnished, But the fields are weedy and wild, And the granaries are very empty!

Ch. 53	Sentence 4
Beck	Yet some wear embroidered clothes, carry sharp swords, over-indulge themselves with food and drink, and have more possessions than they can use. They are leaders in robbery. This is not the Way.
Blackney	and yet they Are clad in rich-embroidered silken gowns. They have sharp swords suspended at their sides; With glutted wealth, they gorge with food and drink. It is, the people say, The boastfulness of brigandage, But surely not the Way!
Bynner	While gentry wear embroideries Hiding sharpened arms, And the more they have the more they seize, How can there be such men as these Who never hunger, never thirst Yet eat and drink until they burst! There are other brigands, but these are the worst Of all the highway's harms.
Byrn	To wear fancy clothes and ornaments, to have your fill of food and drink and to waste all of your money buying possessions is called the crime of excess. Oh, how these things go against the way of the Tao!
Chan	Elegant clothes are worn, Sharp weapons are carried, Food and drinks are enjoyed beyond limit, And wealth and treasures are accumulated in excess. This is robbery and extravagance. This is indeed not Tao (the Way).
Cleary	They wear colorful clothing and carry sharp swords, eat and drink their fill and possess more than enough. This is called the vanity of thieves; it is not the Way.
Crowley	They wear elaborate and embroidered robes; they gird themselves with sharp swords; they eat and drink with luxury; they heap up goods; they are thievish and vainglorious. All this is opposite to the Way of the Dao.
Hansen	Clothes embroidered colourfully. Belts have sharp swords. Bored of drink and food. Wealth and commodities are excessive. This is called 'stealing.' Exaggeration! Not a guide!
LaFargue	"Their clothes are fine and colourful on their belts are sharp swords, they are filled with food and drink" a superabundance of expensive goods. This is robbers boasting, certainly not the Way.
Legge	They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth; - such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!
Lindauer	Clothes are ornamented and patterned Sharp swords are worn Food and drink satiate Money and goods are present in surplus. Appropriately called robbery, extravagance This way is also not tao.
LinYutan	(Yet) clad in embroidered gowns, And carrying find swords, Surfeited with good food and drinks, (They are) splitting with wealth and possessions. - This is to lead the world toward brigandage. Is this not corruption of Tao?
Mabry	But look, here are officials in elegant apparel carrying sharp swords Eating and drinking until they are bloated, Possessed of such wealth that they could never use it all. I call this positively criminal. It is not the way of the Tao.
McDonald	They have elegant, in clothes and gown to wear, some furnished with patterns and embroideries, Some carry sharp weapons, glut themselves with drink and foods enjoyed beyond limit, And wealth and treasures are accumulated in excess, owning far more than they can handle and use. This is to [molest] the world towards brigandage, it's robbery as extravagance. In the end they're splitting with wealth and possessions. Wealth splits, tends to. This cannot be a highway of dao (the way).
Merel	Wearing fine clothes, Bearing sharp swords, Glutting with food and drink, Hoarding wealth and possessions - These are the ways of theft, And far from the Way.
Mitchell	While farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn - all this is robbery and chaos. It is not in keeping with the Tao.
Muller	They wear silk finery, Carry sharp swords, Sate themselves on food and drink Having wealth in excess. They are called thieving braggarts. This is definitely not the Way.
Red Pine	they wear fine clothes they carry sharp swords they tire of food and drink and possess more than they need this is called robbery and robbery is not the Way
Ta-Kao	To wear embroidered clothes, To carry sharp swords, To be satiated in drink and food, To be possessed of redundant riches - This is called encouragement to robbery. Is it not deviating from Tao?
	If the ruler wears fancy clothes and his house is full of weapons, if his table is laden with extravagant food and drink and everywhere one looks he has more wealth than he can use, the ruler is a robber and thief. This is not in keeping with Tao.
Wieger	Dressing magnificently, wearing a sharp sword, stuffing oneself with food and drink, amassing wealth to the extent of not knowing what to do with it (as do the princes of these times), is being like a brigand (who ostentatiously plays with his loot). Such conduct is opposed to the Principle.
World	When leaders and rulers wear extravagant clothing and manipulate the law while attending endless banquets and accumulating wealth for the sake of wealth, they are confused and behave like bandits and thieves. This is not the path of peace and harmony.
Wu	They wear gorgeous clothes, They carry sharp swords, They surfeit themselves with food and drink, They possess more riches than they can use! They are the heralds of brigandage! As for Tao, what do they know about it?