第二章

天下皆知美之為美 斯惡已
皆知善之為善 斯不善已
故有無相生
難易相成
長短相形
高下相傾
音聲相和
前後相隨
是以聖人
處無為之事
行不言之教
萬物作焉而不辭
生而不有
為而不恃
功成而弗居
夫唯弗居
是以不去

Chapter 2
When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises
When it knows good as good, evil arises
Thus being and non-being produce each other
Difficult and easy bring about each other
Long and short reveal each other
High and low support each other
Music and voice harmonize each other
Front and back follow each other
Therefore the sages:
Manage the work of detached actions
Conduct the teaching of no words
They work with myriad things but do not control
They create but do not possess
They act but do not presume
They succeed but do not dwell on success
It is because they do not dwell on success
That it never goes away