Chapter 55

含德之厚，比於赤子。
毒蟲不螫，猛獸不據，攫鳥不搏。
骨弱筋柔而握固。
未知牝牡之合而朘作，精之至也。
終日號而不嗄，和之至也。
知和曰常，知常曰明。
益生曰祥。
心使氣曰強。
物壯則老，謂之不道，不道早已。

One who holds virtue in fullness is like a newborn child.
Poisonous insects do not sting it, fierce beasts do not seize it, birds of prey do not strike it.
Its bones are weak, its sinews soft, yet its grip is firm.
It knows nothing yet of the joining of female and male, yet its member stands: this is the height of essence.
It cries all day and does not grow hoarse: this is the height of harmony.
Knowing harmony is called the abiding; knowing the abiding is called clarity.
Adding to life is called an ill omen.
The mind driving the breath is called forcing.
Things that peak grow old. This is called contrary to the Way. What is contrary to the Way ends early.