26-1
故至诚无息。
Hence to entire sincerity there belongs ceaselessness.
第26章Chapter 26
26-2
不息则久，久则征，
Not ceasing, it continues long. Continuing long, it evidences itself.
26-3
征则悠远，悠远则博厚，博厚则高明。
Evidencing itself, it reaches far. Reaching far, it becomes large and substantial. Large and substantial, it becomes high and brilliant.
26-4
博厚，所以载物也；高明，所以覆物也；悠久，所以成物也。
Large and substantial;-this is how it contains all things. High and brilliant;-this is how it overspreads all things. Reaching far and continuing long;-this is how it perfects all things.
26-5
博厚配地，高明配天，悠久无疆。
So large and substantial, the individual possessing it is the co-equal of Earth. So high and brilliant, it makes him the co-equal of Heaven. So far-reaching and long-continuing, it makes him infinite.
26-6
如此者，不见而章，不动而变，无为而成。
Such being its nature, without any display, it becomes manifested; without any movement, it produces changes; and without any effort, it accomplishes its ends.
26-7
天地之道，可一言而侭也：其为物不贰，则其生物不测。
The way of Heaven and Earth may be completely declared in one sentence. They are without any doubleness, and so they produce things in a manner that is unfathomable.
26-8
天地之道：博也，厚也，高也，明也，悠也，久也。
The way of Heaven and Earth is large and substantial, high and brilliant, far-reaching and long-enduring.
26-9
今夫天，斯昭昭之多，及其无穷也，日月星辰系焉，万物覆焉。今夫地，一撮土之多，及其广厚，载华岳而不重，振河海而不泄，万物载焉。今夫山，一卷石之多，及其广大，草木生之，禽兽居之，宝藏兴焉。
The Heaven now before us is only this bright shining spot; but when viewed in its inexhaustible extent, the sun, moon, stars, and constellations of the zodiac, are suspended in it, and all things are overspread by it. The earth before us is but a handful of soil; but when regarded in its breadth and thickness, it sustains mountains like the Hwa and the Yo, without feeling their weight, and contains the rivers and seas, without their leaking away. The mountain now before us appears only a stone; but when contemplated in all the vastness of its size, we see how the grass and trees are produced on it, and birds and beasts dwell on it, and precious things which men treasure up are found on it.
26-10
今夫水，一勺之多，及其不测，鼋鼍、蛟龙、鱼鳖生焉，货财殖焉。
The water now before us appears but a ladleful; yet extending our view to its unfathomable depths, the largest tortoises, iguanas, iguanodons, dragons, fishes, and turtles, are produced in it, articles of value and sources of wealth abound in it.
26-11
诗云：「维天之命，于穆不已！」盖曰天之所以为天也。「于乎不显！文王之德之纯！」盖曰文王之所以为文也，纯亦不已。
It is said in the Book of Poetry, "The ordinances of Heaven, how profound are they and unceasing!" The meaning is, that it is thus that Heaven is Heaven. And again, "How illustrious was it, the singleness of the virtue of King Wen!" indicating that it was thus that King Wen was what he was. Singleness likewise is unceasing.