Heaven's way is like the bending of a bow. When a bow is bent the top comes down and the bottom-end comes up.

So too does Heaven take away from those who have too much, And give to those that have not enough. But if it is Heaven's way to take from those who have too much And give to those who have not enough, this is far from being man's way. He takes away from those that have not-enough in order To make offering to those who already have too much. One there is and one only, so rich that he the possessor of Tao.

A. Le ciel en agit , comme l’archer qui, bandant son arc, déprime les convexités et fait bomber les concavités , diminuant le plus et augmentant le moins, . Il ôte à ceux qui abondent, et ajoute à ceux qui manquent.

B. Tandis que les hommes , font tout le contraire, ôtant à ceux qui manquent , pour ajouter à ceux qui abondent … Alors que tout superflu devrait revenir à l’empire … Mais cela, seul celui qui possède le Principe, en est capable.

C. Le Sage se conforme au Principe. Il influe, sans s’attribuer le résultat. Il accomplit, sans s’approprier son œuvre. Il ne prétend pas au titre de Sage, .

La Voie du Ciel, comme elle ressemble à l’action de tendre un arc ! Ce qui est haut est poussé en bas, ce qui est bas est tiré en haut ; le surplus est enlevé, ce qui manque est suppléé.

La Voie du Ciel enlève le surplus et supplée ce qui manque. La Voie des hommes, au contraire, n’est pas ainsi : ils enlèvent de ce qui manque pour le présenter là où il y a un surplus.

of Heaven be compared to the bending a bow? The which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up. diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.

It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.

Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only he who is in possession of the Tao!

Therefore the sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest in it:—he does not wish to display his superiority.