若水章第八
 

上善若水。水善利萬物而不爭，處眾人之所惡，故幾於道。居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，動善時。夫唯不爭，故無尤。
 

8. Water

The best of man is like water,

Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,

Which flows in places that others disdain,

Where it is in harmony with the Way.

So the sage:

Lives within nature,

Thinks within the deep,

Gives within impartiality,

Speaks within trust,

Governs within order,

Crafts within ability,

Acts within opportunity.

He does not contend, and none contend against him.

上善就像水一樣。水善於利益萬物而不爭取，處於眾人所最厭惡的地方，所以幾近於道。居處最好的地方就是土地，人心最善良的莫過於像深淵一樣的至深而寧靜，與人相處最好的方式就是愛人，最美麗善良的言語就是誠信，最完美的政治就是治理（無為而治），最好的處理事情方式就是能力，最好的行動就是因時而動。聖人因為像水一樣柔弱而與世無爭，所以天下無災無難。