原文
公有领域勇於敢則殺，
勇於不敢則活。
此兩者，或利或害。
天之所惡，孰知其故？是以聖人猶難之。
天之道，不爭而善勝，
不言而善應，
不召而自來，
繟然而善謀。
天網恢恢，疏而不失。
王弼注
待校读必不得其死也。
必齊命也。
俱勇而所施者異，利害不同，故曰，或利或害也。
孰，誰也。言誰能知天下之所惡意故邪？其唯聖人。夫聖人之明，猶難於勇敢，況無聖人之明而欲行之也。故曰，猶難之也。
天唯不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。
順則吉，逆則凶，不言而善應也。
處下則物自歸。
垂象而見吉凶，先事而設誠，安而不忘危，未召而謀之，故曰，繟然而善謀也。
河上公章句
待校读勇敢有為，則殺其身。
勇於不敢有為，則活其身。
謂敢與不敢也。
活身為利，殺身為害。
惡有為也。
誰能知天意之故而不犯？
言聖人之明德猶難於勇敢，況無聖人之德而欲行之乎？
天不與人爭貴賤，而人自畏之。
天不言，萬物自動以應時。
天不呼召，萬物皆負陰而向陽。
繟，寬也。天道雖寬博，善謀慮人事，修善行惡，各蒙其報也。
天所網羅恢恢甚大，雖疏遠，司察人善惡，無有所失。
Legge 1891
Public domainHe whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong, in
defiance of the laws) is put to death; he whose boldness appears in
his not daring (to do so) lives on. Of these two cases the one
appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious. But
When Heaven's anger smites a man,
Who the cause shall truly scan?
On this account the sage feels a difficulty (as to what to do in the
former case).
It is the way of Heaven not to strive, and yet it skilfully
overcomes; not to speak, and yet it is skilful in (obtaining a reply;
does not call, and yet men come to it of themselves. Its
demonstrations are quiet, and yet its plans are skilful and effective.
The meshes of the net of Heaven are large; far apart, but letting
nothing escape.