五章
天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗；聖人不仁，以百姓為芻狗。天地之間，其猶橐籥乎？虛而不屈，動而愈出。多聞數窮，不如守中。
5. Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?
‘Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
‘Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
Your inner being guard, and keep it free.
天地没有特别的偏爱，任万物自生自成；圣人没有蓄意的仁恩，任百姓自作自息。
天地之间，正像是空心的风箱啊！虚空又源源不绝，运行而生生不息。
过多的发号施令反而加速陷入绝境，不如静持中空放任自由。
原著：老子；Tr. James Legge; 精解：龍裔君
