Chapter 23

希言自然。
故飄風不終朝，驟雨不終日。
孰為此者？
天地。
天地尚不能久，而況於人乎？
故從事於道者，同於道；
德者，同於德；
失者，同於失。
同於道者，道亦樂得之；
同於德者，德亦樂得之；
於失者，失亦樂得之。
信不足焉，有不信焉。

Sparing speech is what is so of itself.
So a whirlwind does not last the morning, a cloudburst does not last the day.
Who makes these?
Heaven and earth.
If even heaven and earth cannot keep them up for long, how much less can man!
So one who follows the Way in his work is one with the Way;
one who follows virtue is one with virtue;
one who follows loss is one with loss.
The Way too is glad to have one who is one with the Way;
virtue too is glad to have one who is one with virtue;
loss too is glad to have one who is one with loss.
Where trust is wanting, there is distrust.