《道德經》第七十七章

天之道，其猶張弓與？ 高者抑之，下者舉之；有餘者損之，不足者補之。 天之道，損有餘而補不足。 人之道，則不然，損不足以奉有餘。 孰能有餘以奉天下，唯有道者。 是以聖人為而不恃，功成而不處，其不欲見賢。

道德經第七十七章

Dào De Jing Chapter 77 ― A. Charles Muller 77. The Way of Heaven...

The Way of Heaven

Is like stretching a bow.

The top is pulled down,

The bottom is pulled up.

Excess string is removed

Where more is needed, it is added.

 

It is the Way of Heaven

To remove where there is excess

And add where there is lack.

The way of people is different:

They take away where there is need

And add where there is surplus.

Who can take his surplus and give it to the people?

Only one who possesses the Way.

Therefore the sage acts without expectation.

Does not abide by his accomplishments.

Does not want to show his virtue.

Dào De Jing Chapter 77 ― James Legge (The way of heaven)

May not the Way (or Dao) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow? The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up. (So Heaven) diminishes where there is superabundance and supplements where there is deficiency.

It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who do have not enough to add to his own superabundance.

Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only he who is in possession of the Dao!

Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it: - he does not wish to display his superiority.

Dào De Jing Chapter 77 ― Arthur Waley

Heaven's way is like the bending of a bow.

When a bow is bent the top comes down and the bottom-end comes up.

So too does Heaven take away from those who have too much,

And give to those that have not enough.

But if it is Heaven's way to take from those who have too much

And give to those who have not enough, this is far from being man's way.

He takes away from those that have not-enough in order

To make an offering to those who already have too much.

One there is and one only, so rich that he the possessor of Tao.

(If, then, the Sage “though he controls does not lean,

And when he has achieved his aim does not linger”,

It is because he does not wish to reveal himself as better than others.)