此文每一章分为三段：老子《道德经》原文、James Trapp的英文翻译版本、以及由我再结合中英和个人理解，翻译出来的现代中文注释版本。发表纯为和几个朋友研习道德经交流使用，让大家可以更加简单的从自己的理解来读修道德经。
1. The mystery of the Dao 道的玄妙
道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。无名天地之始，有名万物之母。故无常欲，以观其妙。常有欲，以观其徼。此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄。玄之又玄，众妙之门。
The Dao that we can comprehend is not the eternal and infinite Dao. The names that we give are not the eternal and infinite names. Void is how we name the origin of the Cosmos. Amplitude is how we name the creation of the things that fill it. Thus it is in Void that we can contemplate the scope of the Dao. And in Amplitude, its subtleties. These two have different names but a common source, and both are mysteries. Gateways to the infinite mutability of the Dao.
我们所能用头脑理解的“道”，不是那个恒久永常的“道”。我们所能赋予万物的命名定义，不是那个恒久永常的真实之名。空无被我们命名为宇宙天地的初始。无中生有的振动被我们命名为充溢宇宙之间的所有创造。因此在空无之中，我们可以观察出道的宏大规模。而在各种振动中，观察到道的精微状态。“无”“有”这两者间，有着不同的名称，却来自同一种来源，两者都是神秘玄妙。两者都是玄妙之上的玄妙，是无限多端的变化通往“道”的各种门户。（*这里我的理解，万物归一是空无的觉知。万物多端样貌则是一直变化的能量呈现。）
2. Not-doing 无作为
天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已。皆知善之为善，斯不善已。故有无相生，难易相成。长短相形，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。恒也。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；万物作而弗始，生而弗有，为而弗恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。
If we understand what makes Beauty beautiful, then we can recognize Ugliness. If we understand what makes Goodness good, then we can recognize Bad. Void and Amplitude have the same origin. Difficulty and Ease beget each other. Long and Short define each other. High and Low support each other. Music and Voice harmonize with each other. Before and After follow each other. This is the Constant. From this it follows that the enlightened man acts through Not-doing, teaches without words, and interacts with Creation without initiating. He makes but doesn't own, acts but doesn't rely on the result, achieves but doesn't linger to be recognized. In not seeking recognition, his credit becomes enduring.
我们了解什么让“美”显得美丽，是丑恶。我们了解什么让“善”显得善良，是不善。“有”和“无”来自同一种来源，困难和简单生成了彼此。长和短定义了彼此，高和低支持了彼此，音乐和声音给彼此带来和谐，前和后跟随着彼此。这就是恒常。从这些道理中，有智慧的人以无作为的态度来行动，在不言语的静默中教导。他和万物创造的力量互动，但不妄想发起开始。他创造事物、但不占有事物，他行动但不依赖结果，成就事情但不栈恋被赏识。只有不追逐赏识的情况下，他的价值才能永久不流失。
3. Removing Desire 移除欲望
不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使心不乱。是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹；弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲，使夫知者不敢为也。为无为，则无不治。
If talent is not glorified, people will not compete with one another. If the rare and precious are not coveted, people will not steal. If desirable objects are not wantonly displayed, people's hearts will not be in turmoil. When the enlightened man orders things he bestows a mind empty of needless concerns; a stomach full of nourishing food. He eschews selfish resolve, and strengthen the body. As a guiding principle he removes the opportunities for willfulness and covetousness from the ordinary people, and withholds the opportunities for misusing their knowledge from the educated. In doing by not-doing, there is nothing that cannot be controlled.
不荣耀那些有才华的人，人们就不会彼此竞争。不强调那些难得一见物品的价值，就不会有人窃盗。不炫耀展现那些引起欲望的东西，人们的心就不慌乱。当有智慧的人在管理人们时，他会让人们减去心中不必要的多余烦恼，让人们腹部饱实，削弱人们自私的意志，强化人们的身体。常态上，他让一般人不再有头脑意志带来的烦恼和贪婪，并且不让那些自以为窃据知识的人随意作为。通过“无作为”态度的作为，那么没有任何事是不能治理好的。
4. Infinite Dao 无限的道
道冲而用之或不盈。渊兮似万物之宗。挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。湛兮似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。
The Dao is like a bowl that can never be emptied. Truly it is inexhaustible, the fount of Creation. It blunts the sharp. Resolves the tangled. Softens the dazzling. Settles the dust cloud. Truly it is unfathomable, and yet we know it is there. I don't know what gave birth to the Dao, but surely it precedes the Sage Emperors.
道就像是一个怎么倒水都倒不空的碗。确实它是无穷无尽的，是万物创造的根源力量。它能让尖锐钝化，解开纠缠，柔化刺眼光芒，让混沌尘埃落定。确实它是不可测量的，但我们知道它存在着。我不知道是谁让“道”诞生的，但可以确定，它的出现比那些古老的先帝都还要早得多。
5. Cultivating Emptiness 耕耘空性
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。多言数穷，不如守中。
The Cosmos obeys its own rules and has no inclination to benevolence. It treats Creation like ritual objects to be used according to their purpose. The enlightened man obeys his own rules and has no inclination to benevolence. He treats the people like ritual objects to be used according to their purpose. Is the Cosmos not like a pair of bellows? Bellows are empty but inexhaustible and the more they are worked, the more they produce. The more we try to define, the more we diminish; far better to cherish unspoken inner understanding.
宇宙天地跟随道的律动，不具有特定偏好的仁慈心，它对待万物，就像对待祭祀用的道具一样，万物就布置在它们该被使用的地方。圣人跟随道的律动，不具有偏爱仁慈，他对待所有人，就像对待祭祀道具一样，布置在他们该被使用的地方。宇宙天地之间，是不是很像风油管？它们虽然中心是空洞的，但是使用起来不会耗竭，越是被使用，越能出产力量。而相反的我们越是尝试用言语去描述定义道，越是显得言语匮乏。最好就珍惜守护那沉默的内在之道吧！
6. The Spirit of the Valley 道之母
谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根，绵绵若存，用之不勤。
The Spirit of Valley is the sacred feminine principle. Its gateway is the root of the Cosmos, like an unbroken silk thread, it is inexhaustible.
像深暗幽谷的道之母，是神圣玄秘的阴性能量。它的门户就是宇宙天地的根源，就像是条绵延不绝的丝线，它是不会耗竭的。
7. Self Through Selflessness 无我的自我
天长地久。天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。是以圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存。非以其无私邪？故能成其私。
Heaven is long-lasting and Earth is enduring. Thus, as it is in itself long-lasting and enduring but does not exist for its own benefit, the Cosmos may endure. In the same way, the enlightened man may place himself in the least and yet be preserved. It is his lack of self-interest that allows him to fulfill himself.
天长存而地久续。天地之所以能长久不衰，是因为它们从来不为了自身利益而存在着，所以宇宙天地的自我可以长久。同样的，有智慧的人总是将自身利益放在最后，所以他真实的自我可以被凸显。他总是将自己的利益抛在一旁，所以他的自我能保存。不正是因为他没有个人利益吗？所以他的自我可以被最好的成就。
8. Avoid Conflict 避免冲突
上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。夫唯不争，故无尤。
People of the highest virtue are like water. Water benefits Creation without any conflict, and it favors the low places shunned by the ordinary people. In this it resembles the Dao. Live in harmony with the land. Allow emotions to run deep. Show benevolence in your dealings with others. Speak with honesty. Arrange things according to the proper order. Manage according to your ability. Act according to opportunity. Without conflict, there is no animosity.
最高美德就像水一样。水的良善，造福了万物，而没有制造争端或分别。它甚至愿意前往一般人们最嫌弃回避的低洼地带。因此水最贴近“道”。良善，是居住时与土地和谐相处，是允许内心往深度探索，是与人们往来时带着慈爱，是说话言语总是诚实，依照妥当秩序来安排组织，依据能力所及来办事，依据机缘来行动。当没有冲突时，也就没有敌意会发生。
9. Recognizing Sufficiency 知足
持而盈之，不如其已；揣而锐之，不可长保 。金玉满堂，莫之能守；富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功成身退，天之道也。
If a vessel you are carrying is already full, it is best not to add anything more. If you keep trying the edge of a blade, you will blunt it. Halls full of gold and jade are impossible to safeguard. Pride in wealth and honor brings its own downfall. To retire gracefully, once your task is done. That is the way of the Dao.
如果一个你携带的容器已经满了，那么最好不要再加任何东西进去了。如果你一直试着碰触刀锋，那么会把刀子弄钝而没办法久用。一个堆满着金银宝玉的房子，是没有办法被安全守护着的。如果对于自己的财富和名声感到骄傲自满，那么就会带来自身的衰退。当你的任务功课完成时，圆满优雅的退出。这就是天下运行的“道”。
*道德经一共81篇，本文为第1-9篇，每次将翻译9篇。（1/9）