Chapter 42 Dyer
The Dao gave birth to one.
One gave birth to two.
Two gave birth to three.
All three begat the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things carry Yin and embraced Yang.
They achieve harmony by combining these forces.
People suffer at the thought of being without parents, without food, or without worth.
Yet this is the very way that kings and lords once described themselves.
For one gains by losing and loses by gaining.
What others taught I teach:
The violent do not die a natural death.
This is my fundamental teaching.
Chapter 42 Henricks
1. The Way gave birth to the One.
2. The One gave birth to the Two.
3. The Two gave birth to the Three.
4. And the Three gave birth to the ten thousand things.
5. The ten thousand things carry Yin on their backs and wrap their arms around Yang.
6. Through the blending of the qi they arrive at a state of harmony.
7. The things that are hated by the whole world
8. Are to be orphaned, widowed, and have no grain.
9. Yet kings and dukes take these as their names.
10. Thus with all things—some are increased by taking away;
11. While some are diminished by adding on.
12. Therefore, what other men teach,
13. [I] will also consider and then teach to others.
14. Thus, "The strong and violent do not come to a natural end."
15. I will take this as the father of my studies.
Chapter 42 Lau
The way begets one;
One begets two;
Two begets three;
Three begets the myriad creatures.
The myriad creatures carry on their backs the yin and embrace in their arms the yang and are the blending of the generative forces of the two.
There are no words which men detest more than 'solitary', 'desolate', and 'hapless', yet lords and princes use these to refer to themselves.
Thus a thing is sometimes added to by being diminished and diminished by being added to.
What others teach I also teach.
'The violent shall not come to a natural end.'
I shall take this as my precept.
Chapter 42 Wu
Tao gave birth to One,
One gave birth to Two,
Two gave birth to Three,
Three gave birth to all the myriad things.
All the myriad things carry the Yin on their backs and hold the Yang in their embrace,
Deriving their vital harmony from the proper blending of the two vital Breaths.
What is more loathed by men than to be "helpless," "little," and "worthless"?
And yet these are the very names the princes and barons call themselves.
Truly, one may gain by losing;
And one may lose by gaining.
What another has taught let me repeat:
"A man of violence will come to a violent end."
Whoever said this can be my teacher and my father.