Chapter 5 Dyer
Heaven and Earth are impartial.
They see the ten thousand things as straw dogs.
The sage is not sentimental.
He treats all his people as straw dogs.
The sage is like Heaven and Earth, to him none are especially dear nor is there anyone he disfavors.
He gives and gives without condition offering his treasures to everyone.
Between Heaven and Earth there's a space like a bellows.
Empty and inexhaustible the more it is used the more it produces.
Hold on to the center, man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within.
Chapter 5 Henricks
1. Heaven and Earth are not humane;
2. They regard the the thousand things as straw dogs.
3. The Sage is not humane;
4. He regards the common people as straw dogs.
5. The space between Heaven and Earth—is it not like a bellow?
6. It is empty and yet not depleted;
7. Move it and more [always] comes out.
8. Much learning means frequent exhaustions.
9. That's not so good as holding on to the mean.
Chapter 5 Lau
Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs;
the sage is ruthless, and treats the people as straw dogs.
Is not the space between heaven and earth like a bellows?
It is empty without being exhausted:
The more it works the more comes out.
Much speech leads inevitably to silence.
Better to hold fast to the void.
Chapter 5 Wu
Heaven-and-Earth is not sentimental;
It treats all things as straw-dogs.
The Sage is not sentimental;
He treats all his people as straw-dogs.
Between Heaven and Earth,
There seems to be a Bellows:
It is empty, and yet it is inexhaustible;
The more it works, the more comes out of it.
No amount of words can fathom it:
Better look for it within you.