《道德经》英译（第二十七章）

善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪；善数不用筹策；善闭无关楗而不可开，善结无绳约而不可解。是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物，是谓袭明。

故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

Chapter 27

A good runner leaves no track.
A good speech leaves no flaws for attack.

A good reckoner makes use of no counters.

A well-shut door makes use of no bolts,

And yet cannot be opened.

A well-tied knot makes use of no rope,

And yet cannot be untied.

Therefore the Sage is good at helping men;

For that reason there is no rejected (useless) person.

He is good at saving things;

For that reason there is nothing rejected (1).

–This is called stealing (2) the Light.

Therefore the good man is the Teacher of the bad.

And the bad man is the lesson (3) of the good.

He who neither values his teacher

Nor loves the lesson

Is one gone far astray,

Though he be learned.

–Such is the subtle secret.

(1)    The Sage uses each according to his talent.

(2)    Hsi, to enter or secure by devious means such as invasion, attack at night, penetration, etc. The idea is cunningly to make use of knowledge of Nature’s law to obtain the best results.

(3)    Tse, raw-material, resources, help, something to draw upon for profit, such as a lesson.