原文
公有领域執大象，天下往。
往而不害，安平太。
樂與餌，過客止。道之出口，淡乎其無味，視之不足見，聽之不足聞，用之不足既。
王弼注
待校读大象，天象之母也，不寒不溫不涼，故能包統萬物，無所犯傷，主若執之，則天下往也。
無形無識，不偏不彰，故萬物得往而不害妨也。
言道之深大，人聞道之言，乃更不如樂與餌，應時感悅人心也。樂與餌則能令過客止，而道之出言淡然無味，視之不足見則不足以悅其目，聽之不足聞則不足以娛其耳，若無所中然，乃用之不可窮極也。
河上公章句
待校读執，守也。象，道也。聖人守大道，則天下萬民移心歸往之也。治身則天降神明，往來於己也。
萬民歸往而不傷害，則國家安寧而致太平矣。治身不害神明，則身安而大壽也。
餌，美也。過客，一也。人能樂美於道，則一留止也。一者，去盈而處虛，忽忽如過客。
道出入於口，淡淡非如五味有酸鹹苦甘辛也。
足，得也。道無形，非若五色有青黃赤白黑可得見也。
道非若五音有宮商角徵羽可得聽聞也。
既，盡也。謂用道治國，則國安民昌。治身則壽命延長，無有既盡之時也。
Legge 1891
Public domainTo him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs. Men resort to him, and receive no hurt, but (find) rest, peace, and the feeling of ease. Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop (for a time). But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth, seems insipid and has no flavour, though it seems not worth being looked at or listened to, the use of it is inexhaustible.