1. abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. a violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. to whom is it that these (two) things are owing? to heaven and earth. if heaven and earth cannot make such (spasmodic) actings last long, how much less can man!

2. therefore when one is making the tao his business, those who are also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where they fail.

3. hence, those with whom he agrees as to the tao have the happiness of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of attaining (to the tao). (but) when there is not faith sufficient (on his part), a want of faith (in him) ensues (on the part of the others).

希言，自然。

飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。

孰为此者？天地。

天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？

故从事于道者：

道者同于道，德者同于德，失者同于失。

同于道者，道亦乐得之；

同于德者，德亦乐得之；

同于失者，失亦乐得之。

信不足焉，有不信焉。

【译文】

少发圣言号令，就可以任运自然。狂风刮不到一个早晨，暴雨下不了一整天。谁行使了这狂风暴雨？是天地。天地也不能长久地维持它的狂暴，何况于人呢？所以，注重于修道的人，以道为法式就可以趋同于道，以德为趋求就可以得到德，失道失德就会导致失道失德的恶果。同于道的人可以得到道的容纳，趋求于德的人可以得到德的畜养，失道失德则终将以失败告终。如果没有充足的理由博得人们的确信，人们是不会真正相信的。