十六章

　　致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静
，静曰复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作，凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃
王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，殁身不殆。

Chapter 16. Decay and Renewal

Empty the self completely;

Embrace perfect peace.

The world will rise and move;

Watch it return to rest.

All the flourishing things

Will return to their source.

This return is peaceful;

It is the flow of nature,

An eternal decay and renewal.

Accepting this brings enlightenment,

Ignoring this brings misery.

Who accepts nature's flow becomes all-cherishing;

Being all-cherishing he becomes impartial;

Being impartial he becomes magnanimous;

Being magnanimous he becomes natural;

Being natural he becomes one with the Way;

Being one with the Way he becomes immortal:

Though his body will decay, the Way will not.