第51章 · 原文
现代白话译文
道生长万物，德养育万物，使万物呈现各种形态，环境使万物成长。因此万物没有不尊崇道而贵重德的。道之所以被尊崇，德之所以被贵重，它不需要谁来下令，而是常自然的。所以道生长万物，德养育万物；使万物生长发育，使万物成熟结果；使万物得到爱护和保护。生长万物而不占有，养育万物而不自恃有功，统领万物而不任意主宰，这就是最深远的德。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
物生而后畜．畜而后形．形而后成．何由而生道也．何得而畜徳也．何因而形物也．何使而成势也．唯因也故能无物而不形．唯势也故能无物而不成．凡物之所以生．功之所以成．皆有所由．有所由焉则莫不由乎道也．故推而极之亦至道也．随其所因故各有称焉．道者物之所由也．徳者物之所得也．由之乃得故不得不尊．失之则害故不得不贵也．亭谓品其形毒谓成其实．各得其庇荫．不伤其体矣．为而不有．有徳而不知其主也．出乎幽冥．是以谓之玄徳也.
河上公注（汉）
道生之者，道生万物也。德畜之者，德养育万物也。物形之者，物成其形也。势成之者，势遂其生也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
道既已生矣，而我何生？道既已畜，且覆之矣，而我何為？而我何長？鄰之人炊其囷粟以自飽，施施然曰我食之，夫誰信哉？乃彼未嘗食於我．而未嘗不食於此也。我唯灼而知之，順而襲之，天下不相知而德我，我姑不得已而德之。物者形矣，勢者成矣。雖灼知之，不名言之；雖順襲之，不易置之；雖德我者不相知，終古而信之；亦可因萬物之不相知也，而謂之玄德矣。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此重明前章不爭之德，以釋上三寶之意也。一章主意，只在善用人者為之下一句。乃假兵家戰勝之事，以形容其慈，乃不爭之至耳。士者，介胄之士。武者，武勇。然士以武為主。戰以怒為主。勝敵以爭為主。三者又以氣為主。況善於為士者不用武。善於戰者不在怒。善勝敵者不必爭。即前所云以慈用兵也。意謂武怒爭三者，獨兵事所必用。若用之而必死，故善者皆不用。何況常人，豈可恃之以為用耶。乃驕矜恃氣，不肯下人，故人不樂其用，乃不善用人耳。故古之善用人者，必為之下，即此是謂不爭之德也。若以力驅人，能驅幾何。若以下驅人，則天下歸之。是以下用人，最有力也。所謂上善若水，水善利萬物而不爭，以其有力也。是謂配天古之極者。乾天，坤地。若天地正位，則為否，而萬物不生。若乾下坤上，則為泰。是知天在上而用在下也。聖人處民上而心在下，可謂配天之德。此古皇維極之道，置百姓於熙皞至樂之中。斯豈不爭之德以治天下，而為力之大者與。此章主意，全在不用氣上做工夫。即前云專氣致柔，能如嬰兒。純和之至，則形化而心忘。不見物為對，則不期下而自下矣。殆非有心要下，而為用人之術也。然學人有志於謙德，則必尊而光，況聖人無我之至乎。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
道生之，德畜之，物刑之，器成之。是以万物尊道而贵德。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
The way produces them, virtue rears them. Things shape them, circumstances complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things all revere the way and honor virtue. Revering the way and honoring virtue are not commanded, but always natural. Therefore the way produces them, virtue rears them, grows them, shelters them, settles them, nourishes them, protects them. Produces but does not possess, acts but does not rely, leads but does not rule. This is called mysterious virtue.
The way produces them, virtue rears them. Things shape them, circumstances complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things all revere the way and honor virtue. Revering the way and honoring virtue are not commanded, but always natural. Therefore the way produces them, virtue rears them, grows them, shelters them, settles them, nourishes them, protects them. Produces but does not possess, acts but does not rely, leads but does not rule. This is called mysterious virtue.
The way produces them, virtue rears them. Things shape them, circumstances complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things all revere the way and honor virtue. Revering the way and honoring virtue are not commanded, but always natural. Therefore the way produces them, virtue rears them, grows them, shelters them, settles them, nourishes them, protects them. Produces but does not possess, acts but does not rely, leads but does not rule. This is called mysterious virtue.