原文
公有领域上善若水。水善利萬物而不爭，處眾人之所惡，
故幾於道。
居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，動善時。夫唯不爭，故無尤。
王弼注
待校读人惡卑也。
道無水有，故曰，幾也。
言人皆應於治道也。
河上公章句
待校读上善之人，如水之性。
水在天為霧露，在地為源泉也。
眾人惡卑濕垢濁，水獨靜流居之也。
水性幾於道同。
水性善喜於地，草木之上即流而下，有似於牝動而下人也。
水深空虛，淵深清明。
萬物得水以生。與，虛不與盈也。
水內影照形，不失其情也。
無有不洗，清且平也。
能方能圓，曲直隨形。
夏散冬凝，應期而動，不失天時。
壅之則止，決之則流，聽從人也。
水性如是，故天下無有怨尤水者也。
Legge 1891
Public domainThe highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.
The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in
their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and
that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness.
And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.