Laozi
道者萬物之奧。善人之寶，不善人之所保。 美言可以市，尊行可以加人。 人之不善，何棄之有？ 故立天子，置三公， 雖有拱璧以先駟馬，不如坐進此道。 古之所以貴此道者何？ 不曰：以求得，有罪以免耶？ 故為天下貴。
James Legge
Tao has of all things the most honoured place. No treasures give good men so rich a grace; Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
(Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others. Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses (in the court-yard), such an offering would not be equal to (a lesson of) this Tao, which one might present on his knees.
Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much? Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could escape (from the stain of their guilt) by it? This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing.
Victor H. Mair
The Way is the cistern of the myriad creatures; It is the treasure of the good man, And that which is treasured by the bad man. Beautiful words can be traded, Noble deeds can be used as gifts for others. Why should we reject even what is bad about men? Therefore, When the son of heaven is enthroned or the three ministers are installed, Although they may have large jade disks And be preceded by teams of four horses, It would be better for them to sit down and make progress in this. What was the reason for the ancients to value this so highly? Did they not say: “Seek and thou shalt receive; Sin and thou shalt be forgiven”? Therefore, It is valued by all under heaven.
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
The Tao has of all things the most honored place. [^1]
It is the good man’s treasure, and that which protects the bad man.
Its excellent words may be displayed before all. Its noble deeds assist all men.
Why should a man be cast aside because he is bad? [^2]
Hence when the sovereign has been enthroned, and the chief ministers have been appointed, though one escorted by a team of horses, present the jade symbol of office, it would not equal the stilling of the heart, and entering this Tao.
What is the reason that this Tao has been held in such esteem from the beginning? May we not say that it is because those who seek receive, and those who are guilty escape by its (help)? [^3] Hence it becomes the most valued thing under heaven. [^4]
The noumenal is the real, the phenomenal, the reflection, and the wise man seeks the former rather than the latter. Earth’s fairest pageantries are insignificant compared with That—her costliest gifts as dust compared with That. Only as man harmonizes with That can he escape the Nemesis of guilt, a harmony which is possible because God and man are identical, differing only as the infinite differs from the finite; the impure or differentiated from the pure or undifferentiated. Jesus is at once a door through which God enters the generations of sin, and through which sinners pass into the realms of the eternal.
[^1] This is the rendering of Dr. James Legge.
[^2] “To merely regard the external appearance of things is like standing outside the hall door, the TAO is within, and That is the most honorable. Men fail to perceive that all things possess It. However, the man of virtue knows that the Tao is his, and hence it is said to be the good man’s treasure.’ But the foolish and ignorant man also possesses the Tao, otherwise he would not be able to endure. Hence it is said to be the bad man’s guardian.’ Though men wander far from the Tao, the Tao never departs far from men.”—Su-cheh.
[^3] This is the only place in the Tao-teh-king where the idea of guilt occurs. The notion is Buddhistic, rather than Taoistic or Confucian.
[^4] “Men, alas, will not seek for the root of truth. It is within themselves. If they sought it they would find it. The Tao has neither merit nor demerit, but men unfortunately do not understand this. If they did they would escape the defilement of sin.”—Su-cheh.
”The Tao (path) may not be left for an instant. If it could be left it would not be the Tao (path).”—The Doctrine of the Mean.
Ursula K. Le Guin
The way is the hearth and home of the ten thousand things. Good souls treasure it, lost souls find shelter in it.
Fine words are for sale, fine deeds go cheap; even worthless people can get them.
So, at the coronation of the Son of Heaven when the Three Ministers take office, you might race out in a four-horse chariot to offer a jade screen; but wouldn’t it be better to sit still and let the Way be your offering?
Why was the Way honored in the old days? Wasn’t it said: Seek, you’ll find it. Hide, it will shelter you. So it was honored under heaven.
Note UKLG: I think the line of thought throughout the poe has to do with true reward as opposed to dishonorable gain, true giving as opposed to fake goods.