1. the (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. all things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). when things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. this returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.

2. the report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. to know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. the knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). from this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. in that likeness to heaven he possesses the tao. possessed of the tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.

致虚极，守静笃，万物并作，吾以观其复。

夫物芸芸，各复归其根。

归根曰静，是曰复命。

复命曰常，知常曰明。

不知常，妄作，凶。

知常，容。

容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。

【译文】

尽可能地使自己显得虚若无有，尽可能地保持清静，在事物波起云涌似的事态演变中，我们可以因此而观察它们的循环反复。事事物物虽然纷纭繁杂，但它们都可以归结于它们的根本。归结到根本它们就显示出始终如一的清静，这就叫做恢复到“本来”。

懂得恢复“本来”就叫做达成了生存的恒常，懂得达到生存的恒常就叫做有明于道。不懂得达成生存的恒常而胡作非为，就会充满凶险。懂得达成生存的恒常就能雍容裕如。能雍容裕如就能得到众人的拥戴，得到众人的拥戴就可以统摄全局，统摄全局就可以像天一样，像天一样就可以进而像道一样，可以永久存在，终身没有危险。