Chapter 62
第六十二章
Tao has of all things the most honoured place.
道者万物之奥。
No treasures give good men so rich a grace;
善人之宝，
Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
不善人之所保。
(Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others.
美言可以市尊，美行可以加人。
Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it.
人之不善，何弃之有？
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers,
故立天子，置三公，

though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses (in the court-yard),
虽有拱壁以先驷马，
such an offering would not be equal to (a lesson of) this Tao, which one might present on his knees.
不如坐进此道。
Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much?
古之所以贵此道者何？
Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could escape (from the stain of their guilt) by it?
不曰：求以得，有罪以免邪？
This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing.
故为天下贵。