太上，下知有之；其次，亲而誉之。其次，畏之。其次，侮之。

信不足焉，有不信焉。 悠兮其贵言，功成事遂，百姓皆谓我自然。

Faith in the Invisible Power

In the ancient time, people know that there is asuper power that governs everything.

Next people worship and honour that power.

Next people are afraid of the power,

And next, people despise that power.

When people get lost in materialism,

They are blinded, and show no faith to their NatureMother.

But be aware of the old proverb,

The power doesn’t talk, but acts.

When her work is done,

the people say,“Amazing：

we did it, all be ourselves!”

[译文]

上古时期，人类与道同在，诚信尊其规律而为；其次，人民亲近赞美道；再其次，人民心存畏惧害怕之情；再后来，人民狂妄自大，诲辱和轻蔑道。当人类迷失于私心贪欲而远离道德时，当然就不相信有道德了。

贤明的统治者悠然而不轻易发号施令。事情办成后，百姓们都说“我们本来就是这样的”。