In the beginning, the One conferred Character like so:

From the One, Heaven took clarity
From the One, Earth took serenity
From the One, the Divine took sacrality
From the One, the Valley took her plenty
From the One, all things took life
And from the One, the King could act for the world, honourably so!

Thus it is so!

If Heaven were not so clear and empty
Fear would tear it to shreds

If Earth were not a place of repose
Then fear would effuse from the soil

If the Divine were not sacred
Fear would finish it off

If the Valley were not overflowing
Then fear would dry her up

If all things were not given life
Fear would exterminate all things

If the King were not valued so highly
Fear would trip him into the dust

So he prefers using the low, which serve as a root
Which the high may stand upon as a foundation!

If the King brands himself "estranged," "isolated," "poor"
Doesn't this contradict using the low as a root? Hm?

One who counts on their reputation, has no repute
Don't wish to shine like a gem
Be hard, like sheer rock

昔之得一者

天得一以清
地得一以寧
神得一以靈
谷得一以盈
萬物得一以生
侯王得一以為天下貞

其致之

天無以清將恐裂

地無以寧將恐廢

神無以靈將恐歇

谷無以盈將恐竭

萬物無以生將恐滅

侯王無以貴高將恐蹶

故貴以賤為本
高以下為基

侯王自稱孤寡不穀
此非以賤為本邪？非乎

故致數譽無譽
不欲琭琭如玉
珞珞如石