If your governance is unconcerned
Your people will be uncorrupted
If your governance is precise
Your people will break into pieces

Happiness sits atop suffering!
Suffering hides 'neath happiness!
Who can say where they start or end?
Nothing straightforward about them

The straightforward tends to act wonderfully unusual
The good tends to act beautifully monstrous

Mankind lost its way
In days long past...

Knowing this, the Sage's design does not divide,
His scrutinisation does not wound,
His confrontation is not wanton,
His illumination is not dazzling

其政悶悶
其民淳淳
其政察察
其民缺缺

禍兮福之所倚
福兮禍之所伏
孰知其極
其無正

正復為奇
善復為妖

人之迷
其日固久

是以聖人方而不割
廉而不劌
直而不肆
光而不燿