【原文】

载营魄抱一，能无离乎？

专气致柔，能如婴儿乎？

涤除玄鉴，能如疵乎？

爱国治民，能无为乎？

天门开阖，能为雌乎？

明白四达，能无知乎？



【现代汉语】

精神和躯体合而为一，不偏离‘道’的轨迹，能做到吗？聚集自然的能量，达到柔顺如婴儿一样的初始状态，能做到吗？摒除一切杂念，内心明亮如镜，没有瑕疵，能做到吗？爱民治国，精简不施苛政，能做到吗？感官接触外物而不受诱惑，保持平静，能做到吗？通晓四方而不沉迷心机权术，能做到吗？



【英译】

To make spirit and body move close along the track of Tao’s together. Can you do that?

To give undivided attention to collect the natural breath and energy, and bring it to the utmost degree of pliancy just like the initial condition of a firstborn. Can you do that?

To clean away all distracting thoughts and keep the heart and soul as pure as mirror without a flaw. Can you do that?

To manage the state and people with love and tidy politics but is not tyranny. Can you do that?

To feel nonego and keep enticement away from disimpassioned heart. Can you do that?

To work without intrigue even the knowledge reaches in every direction. Can you do that?



【备注】

老子文字整齐秀美，对仗公正，信手拈来。

也正因为此，翻译成英文的难度就更大了。本章尤为明显。

六个排比连贯一气，但每一句的句式又各不相同，有肯定含义的，也有否定含义的。交错复杂，我想如果照原文直译，英语人士会晕头转向。

故按照本意将其统一改写为问句。不当之处，望大家多多指正。