第五十一章   尊道奉德

道生之，德畜之，物形之，势成之。 是以万物莫不尊道而贵德。
道之尊，德之贵，夫莫之命而常自然。 故道生之，德畜之。长之育之，亭之毒之，养之覆之。生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰。是谓玄德。

Honoring the Tao

Tao gives them birth, Teh (character) fosters them. Matter givesthem physical form. The circumstances of the moment complete them. Thereforeall things of the universe worship Tao and exalt Teh.

Tao is worshipped and Teh is exalted Without anyone's order butis so of its own accord. Therefore Tao gives birth to all beings, Teh fostersthem, Makes them grow, maintains them, Gives them a harbor, a place to dwell inpeace, protects them, takes them back to itself。

 creating withoutpossessing, acting without expecting, guiding without interfering.

These arecalled the Mystic virtues of the Tao.（The）

 [译文]

宇宙万物皆是道所化生，由德而形成万物的个性，由物质显现而成形，由不同的势态环境成就万物。宇宙间的万物都是依照尊道贵德的自然规律而形成的。道尊与德贵，是其内在顺应自然的显现，并非受任何外力的强制而成。道化生万物，而德育养万物，道德任万物成长和繁育，任其安然和成熟，任其兴旺和再生。  

道生万物却不据为己有，养育万物却不自居功高，成就万物却不为其主宰，这就是道无为自然，奇妙无比的先天大德。