II


1. When everyone in the world knows beauty as beauty,
   Already there is ugliness.
   When all know goodness as goodness,
   Already there is badness.

2. Therefore, Being and No-being produce each other.

   Difficult and Easy give rise to each other,
   Long and Short contrast each other,

   High and Low distinguish each other,

   Tone and Voice harmonise each other,

   Front and Rear follow upon each other.

3. Thus the Sage manages affairs without action,

   Carries out teaching without speed.

   All things arise but he does not initate them.
   He produces them but does not claim owership.

   He completes his work, but does not dwell on it.

4. His achieves success but does not claim credit for it.

   Because he does not claim credit,
   His accomplishments never leave him.