Chapter 7
第七章
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long.
天长地久。
The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.
天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，
This is how they are able to continue and endure.
故能长生。

Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place;
是以圣人后其身而身先，
he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved.
外其身而身存。
Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realised?
非以其无私耶？故能成其私。