5.
Heaven and earth are ruthless
They treat all things as straw dogs for sacrifice
The sage is ruthless
He treats people as straw dogs for sacrifice
The space between heaven and earth
is like a bellows
empty yet inexhaustible
The more it works, the more comes out of it
No amount of words can fathom it
Better look for it within you
6.
The valley spirit never dies
It is the woman, primal mother
The gateway of the mysterious female
is the root of heaven and earth
Lingering like gossamer, it has only the hint of existence
And yet when you draw upon it, it is inexhaustible
7.
Heaven and earth last forever
Why do they last forever?
It is because they don't live for themselves
that they live so long
Therefore the sage
puts himself in the background
but is always to the fore
He effaces himself
and is one with all
Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment
8.
The highest good is like water
Water benefits all
and it does so without contention
It rests where none would like to be
and so is close to the Way
The quality of a house is location
The quality of a mind is depth
The quality of a friend is gentleness
The quality of words is truth
The quality of governance is order
The quality of an enterprise is effectiveness
The quality of deeds is timeliness
Because it never contends
it is never at fault
