原文
公有领域古之善為士者，微妙玄通，深不可識。夫唯不可識，故強為之容。豫焉若冬涉川，
猶兮若畏四鄰，
儼兮其若容，渙兮若冰之將釋，敦兮其若樸，曠兮其若谷，混兮其若濁。
孰能濁以靜之徐清？孰能安以久動之徐生？
保此道者不欲盈，
夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成。
王弼注
待校读冬之涉川，豫然若欲度、若不欲度，其情不可得見之貌也。
四鄰合攻中央之主，猶然不知所趣向者也。上德之人，其端兆不可覩，德趣不可見，亦猶此也。
凡此諸若，皆言其容象不可得而形名也。
夫晦以理物則得明，濁以靜物則得清，安以動物則得生，此自然之道也。孰能者，言其難也。徐者，詳慎也。
盈必溢也。
蔽，覆蓋也。
河上公章句
待校读謂得道之君也。
玄，天也。言其志節玄妙，精與天通也。
道德深遠，不可識知，內視若盲，反聽若聾，莫知所長。
謂下句也。
舉事輒加重慎與。與兮若冬涉川，心難之也。
其進退猶猶如拘制，若人犯法，畏四鄰知之也。
如客畏主人，儼然無所造作也。
渙者，解散。釋者，消亡。除情去欲，日以空虛。
敦者，質厚。朴者，形未分。內守精神，外無文采也。
曠者，寬大。谷者，空虛。不有德功名，無所不包也。
渾者，守本真，濁者，不照然。與眾合同，不自專也。
孰，誰也。誰能知水之濁止而靜之，徐徐自清也。
誰能安靜以久，徐徐以長生也。
保此徐生之道，不欲奢泰盈溢。
夫為不盈滿之人，能守蔽不為新成。蔽者，匿光榮也。新成者，貴功名。
Legge 1891
Public domainThe skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort they appeared to be. Shrinking looked they like those who wade through a stream in winter; irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them; grave like a guest (in awe of his host); evanescent like ice that is melting away; unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything; vacant like a valley, and dull like muddy water. Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear. Who can secure the condition of rest? Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise. They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of themselves). It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.