1. 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.

2. (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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

道者，万物之奥，善人之宝，不善人之所保。

美言可以市尊，美行可以加人，人之不善，何弃之有？

故立天子，置三公，虽有拱璧以先驷马，不如坐进此道。

古之贵此道者何？

不曰：求此得，有罪以免邪？

故为天下贵。

【译文】

道荫庇着万物，它是善人的珍宝，也是不善人托求庇护的归依。嘉美的言辞可以使人们交互尊重，良善的行为可以让人们互相感染，对那些不为现行价值观所认可的不善之人，为什么要横加贬弃呢？所以，自诩为“天子”而自贵，设置三公九卿以供驱使，虽然好象是有了玉璧由四驾马车供奉护拥着似的尊贵显耀，其实还不如来进修我所说的道。从古以来，人们如此推重我所说的道是为了什么呢？还不是因为它有助于人们达成目的，避免过错吗？所以才得到天下人的共同推重。