Laozi
道生之，德畜之，物形之，勢成之。 是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。 道之尊，德之貴，夫莫之命常自然。 故道生之，德畜之；長之育之； 亭之毒之；養之覆之。 生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂玄德。
James Legge
All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.
Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them, brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures them, maintains them, and overspreads them.
It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them;—this is called its mysterious operation.
Victor H. Mair
The Way gives birth to them and integrity nurtures them. Matter forms them and function completes them. For this reason, The myriad creatures respect the Way and esteem integrity. Respect for the Way and esteem for integrity are by no means conferred upon them but always occur naturally. The Way gives birth to them, nurtures them, rears them, follows them, shelters them, toughens them, sustains them, protects them. It gives birth but does not possess, acts but does not presume, rears but does not control. This is what is called “mysterious integrity.”
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
What the Tao produces and its energy [^1] nourishes, nature forms and natural forces establish. On this account there is nothing that does not honor the Tao and reverence its energy. This honor and reverence are spontaneous, not the result of a mandate.
So the Tao produces. Its energy nourishes, increases, feeds, establishes, matures, controls, broods over. It produces, but keeps nothing for itself; acts, but does not depend on its action; increases, but does not insist on having its own way. This indeed is the mystery of energy. [^2]
"The larkSoars up and up, shivering for very joy; Afar the ocean sleeps; white fishing gulls Flit where the strand is purple with its tribe Of nested limpets; subject creatures seek Their loves in wood and plane—and God renews His common rapture.”
Professor Drummond expresses the innerness of this chapter when he writes—“Are we quite sure, that what we call a physical world, is, after all a physical world? The preponderating view of science at present is that it is not. The very term ‘natural world,’ we are told, is a misnomer; that the world is a spiritual world, merely employing ‘matter’ for its manifestation.” “Raise the stone and there thou shalt find me, cleave the wood and there am I.” Sayings of our Lord. (Logion v.)
[^1] The word rendered “energy” is again the Teh of chap. 38. “That which below produces the grain, and above becomes the stars, that which circulates through heaven and earth, is called the Divine Energy.”—Kuan-tzu Wu-ch’eng in his commentary refuses to distinguish between the Tao and its energy. cf. Eph. iv, 6.
[^2] Translated by Dr. Edkins “Secret Energy.” The original is “secret or profound Teh.” Comp. the conclusion of chap. 2.
See “A Vision of Beginnings,” Theosophical Review, vol. xxx, p. 125.
Ursula K. Le Guin
The Way bears them; power nurtures them; their own being shapes them; their own energy completes them. And not one of the ten thousand things fails to hold the Way sacred or to obey its power.
Their reference for the Way and obedience to its power are unforced and always natural. For the Way gives them life; its power nourishes them, mothers and feeds them, completes and matures them, looks after them, protects them.
To have without possessing, do without claiming, lead without controlling; this is mysterious power.