1. the tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging tao. the name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.

2. (conceived of as) having no name, it is the originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the mother of all things.

3. always without desire we must be found,

if its deep mystery we would sound;

but if desire always within us be,

its outer fringe is all that we shall see.

4. under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. together we call them the mystery. where the mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.

道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名。

无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母。

故常无欲，以观其妙；常有欲，以观其徼。

此两者同出而异名，同谓之玄。

玄之又玄，众妙之门。

【译文】

取道于寻常可取之道，其道非恒久之道；取名于寻常可取之名，其名非恒久之名。取名于无名，就好比天地未判之初始；取名于有名，乃是万物化生之根本。所以，通常要无所趋求，以便观想那无以名状的微妙；时常又要有所趋求，以便观想那成名化物的极限。这两方面是同一行为体的不同显现，同样深及于行为体的幽深内殿。在这同样深及幽深的两者之间作不断深入的循环运行，就是一切行为运作的微妙法门。