Is the Way of heaven not like drawing a bow?
What is high is pulled down;
what is low is raised up;
what has excess is reduced;
what is lacking is supplemented.

The Way of heaven reduces excess
and supplements what is lacking.
The way of humanity is not so;
it takes from those who lack
to serve those who have excess.
Who can offer their excess to the world?
Only one who possesses the Way.

Therefore, the sage acts but takes no credit,
accomplishes her work but does not dwell on it,
and has no desire to display her worth.