原文
公有领域使我介然有知，行於大道，唯施是畏。
大道甚夷，而民好徑。
朝甚除，
田甚蕪，倉甚虛；
服文綵，帶利劍，厭飲食，財貨有餘；是為盜夸。非道也哉！
王弼注
待校读言若使我可介然有知，行大道於天下，唯施為之是畏也。
言大道蕩然正平，而民猶尚舍之而不由，好從邪徑，況復施為以塞大道之中乎。故曰，大道甚夷，而民好徑。
朝，宮室也。除，潔好也。
朝甚除，則田甚蕪，倉甚虛，設一而眾害生也。
凡物不以其道得之，則皆邪也，邪則盜也。夸而不以其道得之，竊位也，故舉非道以明非道，則皆盜夸也。
河上公章句
待校读介，大也。老子疾時王不行大道，故設此言。使我介然有知於政事，我則行於大道，躬行無為之化。
唯，獨也。獨畏有所施為，恐失道意。欲賞善，恐偽善生；欲信忠，恐詐忠起。
夷，平易也。徑，邪、不平正也。大道甚平易，而民好從邪徑也。
高台榭，宮室修。
農事廢，不耕治。
五穀傷害，國無儲也。
好飾偽，貴外華。
尚剛強，武且奢。
多嗜欲，無足時。
百姓而君有餘者，是由劫盜以為服飾，持行誇人，不知身死家破，親戚並隨也。
人君所行如是，此非道也。復言也哉者，痛傷之辭。
Legge 1891
Public domainIf I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position
to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should
be most afraid of would be a boastful display.
The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the
by-ways.
Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their
fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They
shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their
girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a
superabundance of property and wealth;--such (princes) may be called
robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!