Attain the utmost emptiness.
Hold fast to the deepest stillness.

The ten thousand things arise together,
and I observe their return.
All things flourish and bloom,
and each returns to its root.

Returning to the root is stillness,
it is returning to destiny.
Returning to destiny is eternal.
Knowing the eternal is clarity.
Not knowing the eternal,
one acts recklessly and creates disaster.

To know the eternal is to be all-embracing.
To be all-embracing is to be impartial.
To be impartial is to be kingly.
To be kingly is to align with heaven.
To align with heaven is to become one with the Way.

To become one with the Way is to endure forever.
Though the body may perish, there is no danger.