Practicing the Dao, Practice Reason, Sitting Still and Reasoning,
Honest Conduct, The Admirable, Horses, Jade,
World
Honored Tao, Emperor, Ministers, Ten Thousand Things, Values, Gift of the Tao,
Laws of the Universe, 為道
"The man of Reason is the ten thousand creatures' refuge, the good man's
wealth, the bad man's stay.
With beautiful words one can sell.
With honest conduct one can do still more with the people.
If a man be bad, why should he be thrown away?
Therefore, an emperor was elected and three ministers appointed;
But better than holding before one's face the jade table of the ministry and
riding with four horses,
Is sitting still and propounding the eternal Reason.
Why do the ancients prize this Reason?
Is it not, say, because when sought it is obtained and the sinner thereby can be
saved?
Therefore it is world-honored."
- Translated by
D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913,
Chapter 62
"Tao has of all things the most honored place.
No treasures give good men so rich a grace;
Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
Its admirable words can purchase honor;
Its admirable deeds can raise their performer above others.
Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven,
And he has appointed his three ducal ministers,
Thought a prince were to send in a round symbol of rank large enough to fill
both the hands,
And that as the precursor of the team of horses in the court-yard,
Such an offering would not be equal to a lesson of this Tao, which one might
present on his knees.
Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much?
Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could
escape from the stain of their guilt by it?
This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing."
- Translated by
James Legge, 1891,
Chapter 62
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
Translated by Brian Walker
Translated by Arthur Waley
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
By Eva Wong
"That which is Tao is treasure house for the 10000
things
Treasure of the valuing man
Place of refuge for the man who is not valuing.
Embellished words can cause respect to be marketed
Doing valued things can cause lavish praise to enter
Men who are not valuing, why be rejecting their presence?
So establish the emperor
Install three ministers
Even though it happens
That the gift of the large jade disk is preceded by a team of horses
It can not compare to sitting, emulating this Tao.
Why did it happen that in ancient times
There were those who treasured this Tao?
Did they go without saying
Seek and finding happens
Possess faults and escape from the anomalous happens?
So it acts as the treasure of the world"
- Translated by
David Lindauer,
Chapter 62
"The way is a sanctum to the myriad beings
A good person’s treasure
A less than good person’s place of refuge
Elegant speeches may be useful at market
Noble deeds may be useful for promoting someone
But if another has less ability
Why waste what they are?
So when enthroning the heir to heaven
Or installing the three high nobles
Though there be big jade platters in tribute
Drawn by teams of four horses
This is not as good as sitting still and offering this path
What purpose had the ancient ones in honoring this way?
Was it not claimed:
“To seek is to find
To claim error is to be forgiven”?
So this becomes precious to all under heaven."
- Translated by
Bradford Hatcher,
2005, Chapter 62
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated by Livia Kohn
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
"The Ten Thousand Things have their source in the Tao.
It is the treasure of the good man, and the refuge of the bad.
Fine words can purchase honor.
Good deeds can earn respect.
Even if a man is bad, that is no reason to abandon him.
Therefore when the Son of Heaven¹ is crowned and the three ministers installed,
Rather than offering gifts of jade discs and a team of four horses,
It is better to remain seated and offer the Tao.
Why did the ancients value the Tao so highly?
Did they not say, ‘By means of the Tao,
Those who seek it shall find it, and the guilty shall be forgiven’?
This is why it is so valued by the world."
- Translated by
Keith H. Seddon,
Chapter 62
"The Tao is the source of all things,
the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge.
You can buy beautiful words.
You can build your reputation with good deeds.
But even bad people can use beautiful words and perform good deeds.
So when the new emperor is crowned
(and the three ministers of state are installed),
do not send gifts of jade and four–horse chariots.
Instead, be still, and offer the Tao.
The ancients treasured the Tao because, when you seek it, you find it;
through the Tao, even sinners receive forgiveness.
That is why everybody loves the Tao."
- Translated by
George Cronk,
1999, Chapter 62
Translated by Eva Wong 
Translated by Philip Ivahoe
By James Miller
Translated by Stephen Bokencamp
By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Translated by Thomas Cleary
By Livia Kohn
"The Way is the myriad creatures’ refuge.
It is that which the good extend,
And that which defends the bad.
Eloquent words can win promotion.
Eloquent actions can elevate.
Even if a person is bad, should one reject them?
When the ruler is installed
And the three great ministers appointed,
Though jade disks
And four-horse teams are offered,
It’s better to grant the gift of the Way
Without stirring from one’s place.
Why was the Way valued of old?
Was it not said it brought achievement,
And mitigated the punishment of the guilty.
So it was prized by the realm."
- Translated by
A.S. Kline, 2003, Chapter 62
"Tao is at the source of everything: treasure for the
good; refuge for the bad.
Fine words can be sold; fine deeds can be but a show.
Why, then, refuge the bad?
Therefore, at the crowning of the emperor or at the appointment of the three
ministers, rather than present gifts of jade and horses, present the gift of
Tao.
Why did the ancients value Tao so?
Did they not say the seeker shall find it; the sinner shall find it and be
forgiven?
So is it the treasure of the world."
- Translated by
Frank K. MacHovec,
1962, Chapter 62
By Hu Xuzehi
Annotated translation by Victor Mair 
By Ha Poong Kim
By Hans-Georg Moeller 
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
By Wes Burgess
By Arthur Waley
"Tao is the enigma of all creation.
It is a treasure for the good man, a shelter for the bad.
Words of worth can create a city;
Noble deeds can elevate a man.
Even though a man is not good, how can he be abandoned?
A jade disc and a coach and four are presented to the emperor at his
enthronement ceremony and to the Three Ministers at their installation, but this
cannot compare with riding toward the Tao.
Those ancients who prized Tao would instead have said, "Seek and you will find,
thus you will be free from guilt."
Hence Tao is valued by the world."
- Translated by
Tam Gibbs, 1981,
Chapter 62
"The Tao ( the Laws of the Universe )
is the hidden Source
of all things.
A treasure
to the honest,
it is a protection
to the confused.
A good word
will find its own location.
A good deed
may be used as a gift to another.
A person
missing the right path
Is no reason
they should be thrown away.
At the official times of empowerment,
Let others offer their discs of jade, following it up with cars and boats;
It is better for you to offer
the Tao ( the Laws of the Universe )
without moving your feet!
Why did the people of the past prize
the Tao ( the Laws of the Universe )?
It is because
by the virtue (the power) of it,
he who looks finds,
And the guilty are forgiven.
That is why
it is such a treasure
to the world."
- Translated by
John Louis Trottier,
1994, Chapter 62
By Alexander Simkins. 
By Derek Lin.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
By Benjamin Hoff.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Translated by Thomas Cleary.
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