老子《道德经》第二十二章英译

【原文】

曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。

是以圣人抱一为天下式。不自见故明；不自是故彰；不自伐故有功；不自矜故长。

夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。古之所谓「曲则全」者，岂虚言哉！诚全而归之。



【现代汉语】

委婉迂回能达到圆满的结果；屈就才能伸展；低洼空虚才能充盈；弊旧就能生新；缺乏预示着多得；过多则会迷惑。

所以遵循'道'的人以'道'的原则作为天下事理的标准和范例。不自我标榜，反而能够显明；不自以为是，反而能够得到彰显；不自我

夸耀，反而能建立功勋；不自我矜持，反而能长久。

就是因为与世无争，所以天下没有人和他争夺。古人所说的"委婉迂回能达到圆满的结果"等箴言，怎么会是空话呢！那是实实在在的真

理啊！

【英译】

The circumbendibus leads to consummation; the condescender leads to spread; the low-lying position leads to increscence; the worn things lead to brand new vitality; the lack leads to abundance; and, overmuch abundance leads to puzzlement.

Therefore the sage holds in Tao's principle, and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self- display, and therefore he shines; from self-righteous, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.

That saying of the ancients that 'the circumbendibus leads to consummation...' was not vainly spoken. Those are all indeed truth.



【备注】

"多则惑"--这是当今世界的最大特征。

满足多，固然困惑；财货缺乏，渴欲多，欲望多就更会惑。所以，这个社会上，无论贫穷富有，大多数人是处于"惑"状态的。

老子所说的"曲则全"中的"全"到底是社会概念、还是精神涵义，抑或是形而上的呢？不知道，只求何时此心能平静。
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