第66章 · 原文
现代白话译文
江海所以能成为百川河流的王者，是因为它善于处在下游，所以能成为百川的王。因此圣人想要在人民之上，必须用言语对人民谦下；想要在人民之前，必须把自己放在人民之后。所以圣人处在上面而人民不感到沉重，处在前面而人民不感到受害。因此天下人民乐意推崇他而不厌恶。因为他不与人争，所以天下没有人能和他争。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
江海所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，故能为百谷王。是以圣人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身後之。是以圣人处上而民不重，处前而民不害。是以天下乐推而不厌。以其不争，故天下莫能与之争。
河上公注（汉）
江海所以能百谷王者，江海善下，故能为百谷王也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
未易下，尤未易「善下」，故天下之為江誨者鮮矣：將欲抑之，而激之必亢；將欲浚之，而祗以不平。而不但此也。獨立而為物所歸，則積之必厚；積厚而無所輸，則欲抑之、浚之而不能。故唯江海者，「善下」者也。江則有海，海則有尾閭。聖人有善，則過而不留。受天下之歸而自不饜，天下亦孰得而厭之？故返息於踵，返踵於天，照之以自然，而推移其宿氣，乃入於」寥天一」。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言聖人治國之要，當以樸實為本，不可以智誇民也。明者，昭然揭示之意。愚者，民可使由之，不可使知之之意。夫民之所趨，皆觀望於上也，所謂百姓皆注其耳目。凡民之欲蔽，皆上有以啟之。故上有好者，下必有甚焉者也。故聖人在上，善能以斯道覺斯民，當先身以教之。上先不用智巧，離欲清淨，一無所好，若無所知者。則民自各安其日用之常，絕無一念好尚之心。而黠滑之智自消，奸盜之行自絕矣。所謂我好靜而民自正，我無為而民自化。故曰非以明民，將以愚之。此重在以字。前云眾人皆有以。以，如春秋以某師之以。謂左右之也。此其上不用智，故民易治耳。然民之難治者，皆用智之過也。足知以智治國者，反為害也，乃國之賊。不用智而民自安，則為國之福矣。人能知此兩者，可為治國之楷式也。楷式，好規模也。苟能知此楷式，是謂之玄德矣。玄德，謂德之玄妙，而人不測識也。故歎之曰，玄德深矣遠矣。非淺識者所可知也。民之欲，火馳而不返。唯以此化民，則民自然日與物相反，而大順於妙道之域矣。語曰，齊一變至於魯，魯一變至於道，猶有智也。況玄德乎。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
江海所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，是以能为百谷王。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
Why do rivers and seas become kings of the hundred valleys? Because they are good at being below them. Therefore they become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore if sages wish to be above the people, they must speak humbly to them. If they wish to be in front, they must place themselves behind. Therefore sages are above but people do not feel heavy, in front but people do not suffer harm. Therefore the world happily promotes them without resentment. Because they do not contend, no one in the world can contend with them.
Why do rivers and seas become kings of the hundred valleys? Because they are good at being below them. Therefore they become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore if sages wish to be above the people, they must speak humbly to them. If they wish to be in front, they must place themselves behind. Therefore sages are above but people do not feel their weight, in front but people do not suffer harm. Therefore the world happily promotes them without resentment. Because they do not contend, no one in the world can contend with them.
Why do rivers and seas become kings of the hundred valleys? Because they are good at being below them. Therefore they become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore if sages wish to be above the people, they must speak humbly to them. If they wish to be in front, they must place themselves behind. Therefore sages are above but people do not feel their weight, in front but people do not suffer harm. Therefore the world happily promotes them without resentment. Because they do not contend, no one in the world can contend with them.