读韩鹏杰中文和许渊冲英文《道德经》笔记（38）

原文：昔之得一者，天得一以清，地得一以宁，神得一以灵，谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下贞。其致之。天无以清将恐裂，地无以宁将恐发，神无以灵将恐歇，谷无以盈将恐竭，万物无以生将恐灭，侯王无以贵高将恐蹶。故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以侯王自谓孤寡不穀。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？故致数舆无舆。不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。

翻译：When one with the divine law,

heaven is clear,

earth is stable,

spirits are divine,

valleys are full,

all creatures are alive,

rulers are noble in the world.

Why are they one with the divine law?

If not clear, heaven would split;

if not stable, earth would quake;

if not divine, spirits would disappear;

if not full, valley would parch;

if not alive, all creatures would perish;

if not high and noble, rulers would fall.

Thus the noble rely on the humble,

and the high is based on the low.

That is why rulers call themselves sole and unworthy.

Do they not rely on the humble as their base?

Is it not true?

Therefore, too much honor amounts to no honor.

We should have no desire for glittering jade

nor for tinkling stone.

我的读后感：贵以贱为本，高以下为基。