1. 上德不德，是以有德。
道德崇高的人謙卑自認為德行不夠深厚，他全心全力追求真理，其實他擁有極高的道德標準。
A highly moral man who humbles himself feeling lack of righteousness pursues the truth with all his heart, indeed he holds a very high moral standard.

2. 下德不失德，是以無德。
道德低落的人自以為很有德，但卻缺乏公德心。
An immoral man thinks he is moral, in fact lack of morality.

3. 上德無為，而無以為。
道德崇高的人大公無私，不為自己謀算。
A man with a high level of morality is unselfish, he will do everything for others rather than for himself.

4. 下德無為，而有以為。
道德低下的人假装大公無私，卻處處為自己謀算。
An immoral man who pretends to be unselfish does everything for himself.

5. 上仁為之，而無以為。
大仁大愛的人為慈愛而活，不求回報。
A great merciful man who lives to love asks for no return.

6. 上義為之，而有以為。
大義磅礴的人高舉正義，是為了造就公義的社會。
A great impartial man lifts up justice in order to build a righteous society.

7. 上禮為之，而莫之應，則攘臂而扔之。
積極追求世俗禮制人沒有得到認可，就會心生怨恨並出手去逼迫他人。
When a man actively promoting secular formalities receives no echoes, he would raise animosity and coerce people to follow.

8. 故失道而後德，失德而後仁。
一個社會失去天道後才強調公德，失去公德後才強調仁愛。
When a society turns away from the Word of God, people start to seek morality, when morality is not practiced they start to emphasize kindness.

9. 失仁而後義，失義而後禮。
失去仁愛後才推崇公義，失去公義後才推行世俗的禮制。
When kindness is lost they start to advocate righteousness, when righteousness is disclaimed they start to promote secular formalities.

10. 夫禮者，忠信之薄，而亂之首。
世俗的禮制乃是導致忠信之氣薄弱的原因，是禍亂篡起的根源。
However, secular formalities are the cause leading to unfaithness and unreliability, the main source of social unrest.

11. 前識者，道之華，而愚之始。
無知卻自認是先知的人不認識天道，靠的是虛偽的才華，不過是愚蠢的開始。
The ignorant who regards himself as a prophet does not know the Word, what he has is filmsy knowledge; it is just a beginning of foolishness.

12. 是以大丈夫處其厚，不處其薄。
所以有德的君王以厚實的天道為基礎，捨棄淺薄的禮法。
Therefore a righteous ruler abides by the solid Word of God, and rejects superficial formalities.

13. 居其實，不居其華，故去彼取此。
居住在真實的公義中，遠離虛偽的才華，乃是聖人捨棄禮法追求天道的原因。
Living with righteousness and rejecting faulty knowledge are the reason why a sage refuses secular formalities and turns to the Word of God.

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【注解】前面說過「無為」有兩層意思：
(1) 不妄為，一切順從「自然」而為；
(2) 無私奉獻又無所不為，但所作所為都不是為了自己。
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JSLieh