Tao Te Ching 39
A poem in English verse 39
Published in
Mar 6, 2022
These are one with Tao:
Heaven, clear;
Earth, tranquil;
Spirit, strong;
Valley, abundant;
Myriad things, alive;
Kings and their countries upright…
All stem from the One.
Heaven, without the One, may fragment;
Earth may implode;
Spirit may weaken;
Valley may become barren;
Myriad things may perish;
Kings may topple.
Nobility rests on humility.
Exalted rests on the lowly.
Kings call themselves alone, orphaned, unworthy -
Don’t they depend on humility?
There is no honor in striving for honor.
Do not aspire to shine like Jade
Or clatter like stones.
