第五十章

出生入死，生之徒，十有三；死之徒，十有三；人之生，动之于死地，亦十有三。夫何故？以其生生之厚。盖闻善摄生者，陆行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵。兕无所投其角，虎无所措其爪，兵无所容其刃。夫何故？以其无死地。

Chapter 50

Among all men from birth to death, three out of ten are considered long, and three out of ten are short. Another three out of ten would die prematurely by their own faults. Why? It's due to overindulgence. In fact, the man, who knows how to self-protect, will never run into rhinos and tigers when walking, will never get injured in battles. It's because on his body, rhinos can't find a location to thrust, tigers can't find a location to clutch, and weapons can't find a location to enter. Why? He's not yet destined to perish. 

第五十一章

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。

Chapter 51

The Tao gives birth to everything, which the virtue nurtures, the condition shapes, the environment grows. Hence everyone adores Tao and values virtue without exception. Tao and virtue are so respected because they follow the nature and do not interfere. Hence Tao gives birth and virtue nurtures, let everything grow and mature, as well as have them protected. For all these efforts, they don't take possessions, don't claim credits and don't attempt to control, and that's the mystic and profound virtue. 

第五十二章

天下有始，以为天下母。既得其母，以知其子；既知其子，复守其母，没身不殆。塞其兑，闭其门，终身不勤。开其兑，济其事，终身不救。见小曰明，守柔曰强。用其光，复归其明，无遗身殃；是为袭常。

Chapter 52

There's an beginning to everything, which is the origin. Knowing the origin, its offsprings become readily understood. Understanding the origin and its offsprings, one would be free from lifetime risks. Shutting down all the openings for desires, one would be free of lifetime troubles. Should one attempt for desires through various openings, his life would be in jeopardy afterwards. It takes a good vision to see details, and takes a good strength to be soft. One should use outside lights to reflect on himself, in order to avoid disasters, which is an everlasting way for living. 

第五十三章

使我介然有知，行于大道，唯施是畏。大道甚夷，而人好径。朝甚除，田甚芜，仓甚虚，服文采，带利剑，厌饮食，财货有余，是谓盗竽。非道也哉！

Chapter 53

It's a simple fact, that when traveling on a boulevard, the biggest fear is to go astray. The boulevard could be smooth and leveled, but men may still go astray. The state affairs become chaotic, the farming lands become deserted, storages become empty, yet some are still well dressed, carrying sharp swords, fed with exquisite foods, endowed with excess of wealth, and they are in fact robbers. There's no Tao whatsoever!