第15章 · 原文
现代白话译文
古代善于为士的人，微妙玄妙，深奥通达，深刻得无法认识。正因为无法认识，所以只能勉强地形容他：小心谨慎啊，像冬天踩冰过河；警惕疑虑啊，像提防四邻围攻；恭敬庄重啊，像在做客；融化和顺啊，像冰块将要融化；淳厚朴实啊，像未经雕琢的素材；空旷开阔啊，像深山幽谷；浑厚宽容啊，像浑浊的流水。谁能够使浑浊安静下来慢慢澄清？谁能够使安静变动起来慢慢显出生机？保持这个道的人，不要求圆满。正因为不要求圆满，所以虽破旧却不会败坏，不需要更新。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
冬之渉川．予然若欲度．若不欲度．其情不可得见之貌也．四邻合攻中央之主．犹然不知所趣向者也．上徳之人．其端兆不可观．意趣不可见．亦犹此也．凡此诸若．皆言其容象不可得而形名也．夫晦以理．物则得明．浊以静．物则得清．安以动．物则得生．此自然之道也．孰能物言其难也．除者详愼也．盈必溢也．蔽覆盖也.
河上公注（汉）
善为士者，微妙玄通。豫兮若冬涉川者，为道之人，畏天威，不敢妄为，犹豫豫如冬涉川，不敢进也。犹兮若畏四邻者，所畏不止一边，四邻皆畏，不敢妄动也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
擇妙者眾，繇微而妙者鮮。求通者多，以玄為通者希。夫章甫不可以適越，而我無入越之心，則妙不在冠不冠之中，而敢以冠嘗試其身乎？而敢以不冠嘗試其首乎？又惡知夫不敢嘗試者之越不為我適也，坐以消之，則冰可燠，濁可清，以雨行而不假蓋，以饑往而不裹糧。其徐俟之也，豈果有黃河之不可澄，馬角之不可生哉？天下已如斯矣，而競名者以折銳為功。久矣，其棄故喜新而不能成也！
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言聖人體道深玄，故形神俱妙。人能靜定虛心，則故有常存也。莊子謂嗜欲深者天機淺。蓋今世俗之人，以利欲熏心。故形氣穢濁麤鄙，固執而不化。不得微妙玄通。故天機淺露，極為易見，殆非有道氣象。皆是不善為士也。老子因謂古之善為士者，不淺露易見。乃微妙玄通，深不可識。夫為不可識，最難形容。特強為之形容耳。然形容其行動也。豫若冬涉川。猶若畏四鄰。猶豫，行不進貌。冬涉川，謂不敢遽進。畏四鄰，謂不敢妄動。此乃從容不迫之意。其威儀也，儼若客。儼，謂肅然可觀。若客，謂謙退不敢直前。其氣也，渙若冰將釋。莊子謂暖然似春。又云冰解凍釋。謂其氣融和，使可親愛之意。其外貌也，敦兮其若樸。敦，敦厚。樸，無文飾也。其中心也，曠兮其若谷。曠，空也。谷，虛也。外體敦厚樸素，而中心空虛寂定也。其跡也，渾兮其若濁。渾，與混同。謂和光同塵也。蓋有道之士，心空無著。故行動威儀，氣象體段，胸次悠然，微妙玄通之若此。所謂孔德之容，惟道是從。故可觀而不可識。世俗之人，以功名利祿交錯於前，故形氣穢濁，而不可觀。老子因而愍之曰，孰能於此濁亂之中，恬退自養，靜定持心，久久而徐清之耶。蓋心水汨昏，以靜定治之，則清。所謂如澄濁水，沙土自沈，清水現前，名為初伏客塵煩惱。不能頓了，故曰徐清。人皆競進於功利之間。老子謂孰能安定自守，久久待時而後生耶。生，乃發動。謂應用也。即聖人迫不得已而後應之意。筆乘謂老子文法多什韻。蓋清，生，盈，成，一韻耳。若言徐動，徐應，則不什矣。老子嗟歎至此，乃教之以守道之方，曰，保此道者不欲盈。盈，滿也。欲盈，乃貪得無厭，不知止足之意。謂世人但知汨汨於嗜欲，貪得不足。殊不知天道忌盈，滿則溢矣。所謂持而盈之，不如其已。故此教之以不欲盈也。後乃結示知足常足之意，曰，夫惟不盈，是以能敝不新成，故敝。物之舊者謂之敝。凡物舊者，最持久，能奈風霜磨折。而新成者，雖一時鮮明，不久便見損壞。老子謂世人多貪好盈，雖一時榮觀快意，一旦禍及，則連本有皆失之矣。惟有道者，善知止足。雖無新成之名利，而在我故有現成之物，則可常常持之而不失矣。故曰能敝不新成。觀子房請留辟穀之事，可謂能敝不新成者。此余所謂子房得老之用也。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
古之善为道者，微妙玄达，深不可志。夫唯不可志，故强为之容。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
The ancients who were skilled in the way did not try to enlighten the people but kept them in ignorance. The reason why the people are difficult to govern is that they are too clever. To govern the country with cleverness is the bane of the country. Not to govern the country with cleverness is its blessing.
The ancient masters of the way were subtle and mysterious. They were too deep to be understood. Because they could not be understood, I can only describe their appearance: Cautious, like crossing a winter stream. Hesitant, like fearing neighbors on all sides. Dignified, like being a guest. Yielding, like ice about to melt. Simple, like uncarved wood. Open, like a valley. Turbid, like muddy water. Who can quiet the turbid and gradually make it clear? Who can stir the still and gradually bring it to life? Those who hold to this way do not wish to be full. Because they are not full, they can wear out and not need to be renewed.
The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive. Too deep to be understood. Because they could not be understood, I can only describe them: cautious as if crossing a winter stream, hesitant as if fearing neighbors, dignified as if being a guest, yielding like melting ice, simple like uncarved wood, open like a valley, turbid like muddy water. Who can quiet the turbid and gradually become clear? Who can stir the still and gradually come to life? Those who hold this way do not wish to be full. Because they are not full, they can renew and not be exhausted.