第二十九章
无为
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。
天下神器，不可为也，为者败之，执者失之。
故物或行或随；
或歔或吹；
或强或羸；
或挫或隳。
是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
王弼注
英译 · James Legge
Taking no action
If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.
The course and nature of things is such that
What was in front is now behind;
What warmed anon we freezing find.
Strength is of weakness oft the spoil;
The store in ruins mocks our toil.
Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，
神，无形无方也。器，合成也。无形以合，故谓之神器也。
不可为也，为者败之，执者失之。
万物以自然为性，故可因而不可为也。可通而不可执也。物有常性，而造为之，故必败也。物有往来而执之，故必失矣。
故物或行或随，或歔或吹。或强或羸，或挫或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
凡此诸或，言物事逆顺反覆，不施为执割也。圣人达自然之至，畅万物之情，故因而不为，顺而不施。除其所以迷，去其所以惑，故心不乱而物性自得之也。