53 使我介然有知 行於大道

老子道德經第五十三章

使我介然有知　行於大道
唯施是畏
大道甚夷　而人好徑
朝甚除　田甚蕪　倉甚虛　服文采
帶利劍　厭飲食　財貨有餘
是為盜夸　非道也哉

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FIFTY-THREE (Feng)

If I have even just a little sense,
I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it.
Keeping to the main road is easy,
But people love to be sidetracked.

When the court is arrayed in splendor,
The fields are full of weeds,
And the granaries are bare,
Some wear gorgeous clothes,
Carry sharp swords,
And indulge themselves with food and drink;
They have more possessions than they can use.
They are robber barons.
This is certainly not the way of Tao.

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53 (ah san)

Common sense says, keep on the main road.
But how come everyone likes the small roads?

They have fancy houses,
Although behind and inside they are quite empty;
They wear fashionable cloth,
They are equipped with the newest gadgets,
They grow tired of good food and wine;
They have amassed innumerable treasures.
I think they are rather robbers
who walk on those small roads.