#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 72 Chapter 74 Back to index #

Ch. 73	Sentence 2
Beck	Of these two, one is good, and one is harmful. Some are not favored by heaven. Who knows why? Even the wise consider it a difficult question.
Blackney	And from them both come good and ill; "God hates some folks, but who knows why?" The Wise Man hesitates there too:
Bynner	But either of these men Has better and a worse side than the other. And who can tell exactly to which qualities heaven objects?
Byrn	One is the way to death, and the other is the way to preserve your life. Who can understand the workings of Heaven?
Chan	Of these two, one is advantageous and one is harmful. Who knows why Heaven dislikes what it dislikes? Even the sage considers it a difficult question.
Cleary	These two may help and may harm. Who knows the reason for what heaven dislikes? That is why even sages find it hard for them.
Crowley	It would seem as if the one course were profitable and the other detrimental. Yet, when Heaven smites a man, who shall assign the cause thereof? Therefore the sage is indifferent.
Hansen	These pairings: one benefits, one harms. That which nature despises, who knows its cause? Using this, sages make it even more difficult.
LaFargue	But in both these cases: "Sometimes it helps, sometimes it harms." "What Heaven picks to hate - who knows the reason?" And so the Wise Person: Treats things as difficult.
Legge	Of these two cases the one appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious. But When Heaven's anger smites a man, Who the cause shall truly scan? On this account the sage feels a difficulty (as to what to do in the former case).
Lindauer	Each of these two benefits some, harms some.The place of the heaves dislikes Who knows why it is so? Appropriately it happens that sages see it just as difficult.
LinYutan	In these two, There is some advantage and some disadvantage. (Even if) Heaven dislikes certain people, Who would know (who are to be killed and) why? Therefore even the Sage regards it as a difficult question.
Mabry	In these two, one is good and the other harmful. Who knows why Heaven allows some things to happen? Even the Sage is stumped sometimes.
McDonald	Either approach can be profitable or unprofitable, still one of them is harmful. Who is brave in non-daring without ado lets live. There can be some advantage and some disadvantage in each approach - Now, "Dao-heaven hates the one it hates, hates what it hates; and none can know the reason why." Who knows why and what it dislikes? Heaven dislikes certain people; but the wise man considers it a tricky question. Yes, why heaven seems to hate - even a wise man regards it as a tricky question.
Merel	The subtle profit where the bold perish For Fate does not honour daring. And even the sage dares not tempt fate.
Mitchell
Muller	Among these two, one is beneficial and the other is harmful. Who understands the reason why Heaven dislikes what it dislikes? Even the sage has difficulty in knowing this.
Red Pine	of these two one benefits one harms what Heaven hates who knows the reasons
Ta-Kao	To know these two is to distinguish the one, benefit, from the other, harm. Who can tell that one of them should be loathed by heaven?'
Walker	The first is harmful, the second beneficial. Heaven prohibits some things, but who knows the reason? Not even the sage knows the answer to this.
Wieger	Therefore there are two courages, one harmful, the other beneficial. (Patience and forbearance are always worth more than incisive action, even in government, in politics). For does heaven wish harm, or not, to this or that man, or nation? ... And why? ... Who knows? - Therefore the Sage always acts as though embarrasses, (hesitating, making up his mind with difficulty before any active intervention).
World	Both types of people occupy the world forever. They are one and undistinguished by Infinity.
Wu	Of these two kinds of bravery, one is beneficial, while the other proves harmful. Some things are detested by Heaven, But who knows the reason? Even the Sage is baffled by such a question.

Ch. 73	Sentence 3
Beck	The Way of heaven does not strive; yet it wins easily. It does not speak; yet it gets a good response. It does not demand; yet all needs are met. It is not anxious; yet it plans well.
Blackney	God's Way is bound to conquer all But not by strife does it proceed. Not by words does God get answers: He calls them not and all things come. Master plans unfold but slowly,
Bynner	Heaven does nothing to win the day, Says nothing - Is echoed, Orders nothing - Is obeyed, Advises nothing - Is right:
Byrn	The Tao of the universe does not compete, yet wins; does not speak, yet responds; does not command, yet is obeyed; and does act, but is good at directing.
Chan	The Way of Heaven does not compete, and yet is skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. It comes to you without your invitation. It is not anxious about things and yet it plans well.
Cleary	The Way of heaven wins well without contest, responds well without speech, comes of itself uncalled, relaxed yet very resourceful.
Crowley	The Dao of Heaven contends not, yet it overcomes; it is silent, yet its need is answered; it summons none, but all men come to it of their own free will. Its method is quietness, yet its will is efficient.
Hansen	The natural guide does not contend and yet is good at winning. Does not discourse and yet skillfully responds. Does not call and yet comes of itself. Insensate and yet good at planning.
LaFargue	Heaven's Way: Not contending, but excels at overcoming not speaking, but excels in getting answers not summoning, but people come of themselves lax, but excels at organization.
Legge	It is the way of Heaven not to strive, and yet it skillfully overcomes; not to speak, and yet it is skillful in (obtaining a reply; does not call, and yet men come to it of themselves. Its demonstrations are quiet, and yet its plans are skillful and effective.
Lindauer	The tao of the heavens Without contending yet values conquering Without words yet values responding Without summoning yet attracts to itself Is easy-natured yet values a place for everything.
LinYutan	Heaven's Way (Tao) is good at conquest without strife, Rewarding (vice and virtue) without words, Making its appearance without call, Achieving results without obvious design.
Mabry	The way of Heaven/ Does not compete, but is good at winning. Does not speak, yet always responds; Does not demand, but is usually obeyed; Seems chaotic, but unfolds a most excellent plan.
McDonald	Well, it's in the fixed dao sets of heaven not to strive in the open, but none the less to conquer. Not to compete, but all the same win expertly. Be good at conquest without strife. Dao hardly speaks, it skilfully responds. It comes without skilful invitation, it can appear without a call. It doesn't seem anxious about things and yet it shows up it plans very well. It gets able results without obvious design, as from hidden, laid, [broad] plans and schemes. [Say little, foster well laid schemes and designs.]
Merel	Fate does not attack, yet all things are conquered by it; It does not ask, yet all things answer to it; It does not call, yet all things meet it; It does not plan, yet all things are determined by it.
Mitchell	It overcomes without competing, answers without speaking a word, arrives without being summoned, accomplishes without a plan.
Muller	The Way of Heaven is to win easily without struggle. To respond well without words, To naturally come without special invitation, To plan well without anxiety.
Red Pine	the Way of Heaven wins easily without a fight answers wisely without a word comes quickly without a summons plans ingeniously without a thought
Ta-Kao	The Tao of heaven does not contend; yet it surely wins the victory. It does not speak; yet it surely responds. It does not call; yet all things come of their own accord. It remains taciturn; yet it surely makes plans.
Walker	This is the way of heaven: It doesn't contend, but easily overcomes. It doesn't speak, but always responds. It can't be summoned, but comes of its own volition. Utterly without haste, it plans for everything.
Wieger	For the way of heaven (its constant conduct), is not to intervene positively. It wins without fighting. It makes things obey without giving orders. It makes them come without calling them. It brings everything to its conclusion whilst having the appearance of letting everything drag.
World	Infinity does not contend but through oneness overcomes all things. It does not speak but is the answer to all questions. It does not summons but all things are attracted to it. It makes no plans and has no goals but all things are manifested by it.
Wu	It is Heaven's Way to conquer without striving, To get responses without speaking, To induce the people to come without summoning, To act according to plans without haste.

Ch. 73	Sentence 4
Beck	The net of heaven is vast; its meshes are wide, but nothing slips through.
Blackney	Like God's wide net enclosing all: Its mesh is coarse but none are lost.
Bynner	And which of us, seeing that nothing is out side the vast Wide-meshed net of heaven, knows just how it is cast?
Byrn	The nets of Heaven are wide, but nothing escapes its grasp.
Chan	Heaven's net is indeed vast. Though its meshes are wide, it misses nothing.
Cleary	The net of heaven is vast; the holes are large but don't let slip.
Crowley	Large are the meshes of Heaven's Net; wide open, yet letting none escape.
Hansen	The natural net is all encompassing. It is loose and yet nothing is lost.
LaFargue	Heaven's net is very wide - loosely woven, but it lets nothing slip by.
Legge	The meshes of the net of Heaven are large; far apart, but letting nothing escape.
Lindauer	The net of the heavens is vast, expansive A coarse mesh yet without loss.
LinYutan	The heaven's net is broad and wide. With big meshes, yet letting nothing slip through.
Mabry	Heaven's net is cast wide And though its meshes are loose, Nothing is ever lost.
McDonald	Dao-heaven's net is wide, with big, coarse meshes. Still it misses nothing. Nothing slips through.
Merel	Fate's net is vast and its mesh is coarse, Yet none escape it.
Mitchell	Its net covers the whole universe. And though its meshes are wide, it doesn't let a thing slip through.
Muller	Heaven's net is vast. It is loose. Yet nothing slips through.
Red Pine	the Net of Heaven is all-embracing it mesh is wide but nothing escapes
Ta-Kao	The net of heaven is vast, and its meshes are wide; Yet from it nothing escapes.
Walker	The net of heaven is vast. Though its meshes are wide, nothing slips through.
Wieger	The heavenly net catches all. Its mesh is wide, but no one escapes it.
World	The net of Infinity is all encompassing. The mesh is large yet nothing slips through.
Wu	Vast is Heaven's net; Sparse-meshed it is, and yet Nothing can slip through it.