Chapter 28
第二十八章
Who knows his manhood's strength,
知其雄，
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
守其雌，
As to one channel flow the many drains,
为天下溪。
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
为天下溪，
Thus he the constant excellence retains;
常德不离，
The simple child again, free from all stains.
复归于婴儿。
Who knows how white attracts,
知其白，
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
守其黑，
The pattern of humility displayed,
为天下式。
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
为天下式，
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
常德不忒，
Endless return to man's first state has made.
复归于无极。

Who knows how glory shines,
知其荣，
Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;
守其辱，
Behold his presence in a spacious vale,
为天下谷。
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
为天下谷，
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
常德乃足，
The simple infant man in him we hail.
复归于朴。
The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels.
朴散则为器，
The sage, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations he employs no violent measures.
圣人用之，则为官长，故大制不割。