圣治
原文
道常无名。 朴虽小，1天下莫能臣也。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止所以不殆。譬道之在天下，犹川谷之与江海。
王弼注
道常无名， 朴虽小，1天下莫能臣也。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。道无形不系常，不可名，以无名为常。故曰道常无名也。朴之为物，以无为心也，亦无名，故将得道莫若守朴，夫智者可以能臣也，勇者可以武使也，巧者可以事役也，力者可以重任也，朴之为物，愦然不偏，近于无有，故曰，莫能臣也。抱朴无为，不以物累其真，不以欲害其神，则物自宾而道自得也。天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。言天地相合，则甘露不求而自降；我守其真性无为，则民不令而自均也。始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止所以不殆。始制，谓朴散始为官长之时也。始制官长，不可不立名分以定尊卑，故始制有名也，过此以往将争锥刀之末，故曰，名亦既有，夫亦将知止也，遂任名以号物，则失治之母，故知止所以不殆也。譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。川谷之以求江与海，非江海召之，不召不求而自归者，世行道于天下者，不令而自均，不求而自得，故曰，犹川谷之与江海也。 1. 朴虽小， : 旧脱。 本章王弼注多言「朴」，据河上公《注》本、马王堆《老子乙》增。
英文 · James Legge
(The Dao with no name) The Dao, considered as unchanging, has no name. Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the whole world dares not deal with (one embodying) it as a minister. If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it, all would spontaneously submit themselves to him. Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord. As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name. When it once has that name, (men) can know to rest in it. When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error. The relation of the Dao to all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streams from the valleys. 1. 朴虽小， : Inserted. 本章王弼注多言“朴”，据河上公《注》本、马王堆《老子乙》增。