原文
公有领域江海所以能為百谷王者，以其善下之，故能為百谷王。是以欲上民，必以言下之。欲先民，必以身後之。是以聖人處上而民不重，處前而民不害。是以天下樂推而不厭，以其不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。
王弼注
待校读本章此来源暂无可用注疏。
河上公章句
待校读江海以卑，故眾流歸之，若民歸就王。
以卑下，故能為百谷王也。
欲在民之上也。
法江海處謙虛。
欲在民之前也。
先人而後己也。
聖人在民上為主，不以尊貴虐下，故民戴而不為重。
聖人在民前，不以光明蔽後，民親之若父母，無有欲害之心也。
聖人恩深愛厚，視民如赤子，故天下樂推進以為主，無有厭也。
天下無厭聖人時，是由聖人不與人爭先後也。
言人皆有為，無有與吾爭無為。
Legge 1891
Public domainThat whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage
and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower
than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all. So it is
that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his
words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person
behind them.
In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his
weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it an
injury to them.
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of
him. Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive
with him.