原文
公有领域道生之，德畜之，物形之，勢成之。
是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。
道之尊，德之貴，夫莫之命而常自然。
故道生之，德畜之。長之育之，亭之毒之，蓋之覆之。
生而不有，為而不恃，
長而不宰。是謂玄德。
王弼注
待校读物生而後畜，畜而後形，形而後成，何由而生？道也；何得而畜？德也；何由而形？物也；何使而成，勢也。唯因也，故能無物而不形；唯勢也，故能無物而不成。凡物之所以生，功之所以成，皆有所由，有所由焉，則莫不由乎道也。故推而極之，亦至道也。隨其所因，故各有稱焉。
道者，物之所由也。德者，物之所得也。由之乃得，故曰不得不失，尊之則害，不得不貴也。
命並作爵。
謂成其實，各得其庇蔭，不傷其體矣。
為而不有。
有德而不知其主也，出乎幽冥，是以謂之玄德也。
河上公章句
待校读道生萬物。
德，一也。一主布氣而蓄養。
一為萬物設形像也。
一為萬物作寒暑之勢以成之。
道德所為，無不盡驚動，而尊敬之。
道一不命召萬物，而常自然應之如影響。
道之於萬物，非但生而已，乃復長養、成孰、覆育，全其性命。人君治國治身，亦當如是也。
道生萬物，不有所取以為利也。
道所施為，不恃望其報也。
道長養萬物，不宰割以為利也。
道之所行恩德，玄闇不可得見。
Legge 1891
Public domainAll things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its
outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the
nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of
their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the
Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the
result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.
Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them,
brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures
them, maintains them, and overspreads them.
It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it
carries them through their processes and does not vaunt its ability in
doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over
them;--this is called its mysterious operation.