Tao Teh Ching - 60 Interactive Versions

#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 Chapter 73 Chapter 75 Back to index #

Ch. 74	Sentence 1
Beck	People are not afraid to die. So why threaten them with death?
Blackney	The people do not fear at all to die; What's gained therefore by threat'ning them with death?
Bynner	Death is no threat to people Who are not afraid to die;
Byrn	If you do not fear death, then how can it intimidate you? If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can not do.
Chan	The people are not afraid of death. Why, then, threaten them with death?
Cleary	If people usually don't fear death, how can death be used to scare them?
Crowley	The people have no fear of death; why then seek to awe them by the threat of death?
Hansen	When the people are not afraid of death For what reason would you use death to frighten them?
LaFargue	"The people are always lacking in the fear of death." Then why frighten them with death?
Legge	The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death?
Lindauer	When people lack respect for death How does it happen that death looks threatening?
LinYutan	The people are not afraid of death; Why threaten them with death?
Mabry	If people do not fear death How can you threaten them with it?
McDonald	When the people are not afraid of death, why threaten them with death sentences?
Merel	If people were not afraid of death, Then what would be the use of an executioner?
Mitchell	If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
Muller	If the people don't fear death How will you scare them with death?
Red Pine	If people no longer fear death why do we threaten to kill them
Ta-Kao	When the people are not afraid of death, what use is it to frighten them with the punishment of death?
Walker	If people don't love life, they won't fear death, and threatening them with it won't work.
Wieger	If the people do not fear death, what is the good of trying to control them by the threat of death?
World	When people are at one with Infinity, they have no fear of death and so they are indifferent to threats.
Wu	When the people are no longer afraid of death, Why scare them with the specter of death?

Ch. 74 Sentence 2

Beck If people were afraid of death, and lawbreakers could be caught and put to death, who would dare to do so?

Blackney If you could always make them fear decease, As if it were a strange event and rare, Who then would dare to take and slaughter them?

Bynner But even if these offenders feared death all day, Who would be rash enough To act as executioner?

Byrn -

Chan Suppose the people are always afraid of death and we can seize those who are vicious and kill them, Who would dare to do so?

Cleary If people are made to fear death, and you catch them and kill them when they act oddly, who would dare?

Crowley If the people feared death and I could put to death evil-doers, who would dare to offend?

Hansen If you cause the people to constant fear of death And yet those who deem:act deviantly, we take, hold and kill them, who will dare do it?

LaFargue Supposing the people always had the fear of death, and we could catch law breakers and kill them - who would dare?

Legge If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?

Lindauer Suppose people entirely respect death Yet there are those who act strange. I may obtain hold of them yet who would venture to be killing them?

LinYutan Supposing that the people are afraid of death, And we can seize and kill the unruly, Who would dare to do so?

Mabry If people live in constant fear of death, Because those who break the law are seized and killed, Who would dare to break the law?

McDonald Even supposing the people are constantly afraid of death and we can seize and kill those who are unruly or vicious, who would dare to slay them?

Merel If people were only afraid of death, And you executed everyone who did not obey, No one would dare to disobey you. Then what would be the use of an executioner?

Mitchell If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve.

Muller If you make the people continuously fear death By seizing anybody who does something out of the ordinary And killing them, Who will dare to move?

Red Pine and if others fear death and still act perverse and we catch and kill them who else will dare

Ta-Kao If the people were constantly afraid of death and we could arrest and kill those who commit treacheries, who then would dare to commit such?

Walker If people have lives worth living, then the threat of death is meaningful, and they'll do what is right to avoid it.

Wieger If they fear death, then only capture and execute those who cause disorder, turning the others away from doing likewise. (The legalists who are lavish with the death penalty and believe it will sort everything out, are therefore wrong).

World When people are confused with the distinction of life and death, they fear death. If death is the penalty for breaking the law, the vast majority will be law abiding.

Wu If you could make the people always afraid of death, And they still persisted in breaking the law, Then you might with reason arrest and execute them, And who would dare to break the law?

Ch. 74 Sentence 3

Beck There is the Lord of Death who executes. Trying to do his job is like trying to cut wood for the Master Carpenter. Those who try to cut wood for the Master Carpenter rarely escape injuring their own hands.

Blackney The executioner is always set To slay, but those who substitute for him Are like would-be master carpenters Who try to chop as that skilled craftsman does And nearly always mangle their own hands!

Bynner Nature is executioner. When man usurps the place, A carpenter's apprentice takes the place of the master: And 'an apprentice hacking with the master's axe May slice his own hand.'

Byrn Those who harm others are like inexperienced boys trying to take the place of a great lumberjack. Trying to fill his shoes will only get them seriously hurt.

Chan There is always the master executioner (Heaven) who kills. To undertake executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for the master carpenter. Whoever undertakes hewing wood for the master carpenter rarely escapes injuring his own hands.

Cleary There are always executioners. And to kill in the place of an executioner is taking the place of a master carver. Those who take the place of a master carver rarely avoid cutting their hands.

Crowley There is one appointed to inflict death. He who would usurp that position resembles a hewer of wood doing the work of a carpenter. Such a one, presumptuous, will be sure to cut his own hands.

Hansen Should we constant having a professional executor do the killing? To delegate a professional executor for killing, Is this called "delegating the great carpenter to chop"? Those who delegate the great carpenter to chop are few. It doesn't hurt his hand.

LaFargue There is always The Executioner - he does the killing. Doing the killing in The Executioner's place, this is like "doing the cutting in the master carpenter's place." One who cuts in the master carpenter's place - seldom it is he does not cut his hand.

Legge There is always One who presides over the infliction death. He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!

Lindauer Entireness possesses that which is the master killer, killing.In the end taking the place Of that which is the master killer, killing Is appropriately called Taking the place of the great carpenter, carving. In the end take the place of the great carpenter, carving It is rarely true that a lack of wounding the hand goes with this.

LinYutan Often it happens that the executioner is killed. And to take the place of the executioner Is like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter. He who handles the hatchet for the master carpenter seldom escapes injury to his hands.

Mabry There has always been an official executioner. If you take the law into your own hands And try to take his place, It is like trying to take the place of a master carpenter In which case you would probably hurt your hands.

McDonald There's always the master executioner (Heaven). To kill in his stead is like thrusting oneself into he master-carpenter's place and doing his chipping for him. "He who tries it is lucky if he doesn't cut his hand," they say. To undertake executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for him. It rarely happens you escape injuring your own hands. Now, often it happens as well that the executioner is killed - And to take the place of the executioner is in part like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter. He who handles the hatchet for the master carpenter seldom escapes injury to his hands.

Merel People fear death because death is an instrument of fate. When people are killed by execution rather than by fate, This is like carving wood in the place of a carpenter. Those who carve wood in place of a carpenter Often injure their hands.

Mitchell Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master carpenter's tools, chances are that you'll cut your hand.

Muller There is always an official executioner to handle this. If you play the role of the official executioner It is like cutting wood in the capacity of Master Carpenter. There are few who will not cut their hands.

Red Pine as long as people fear death the executioner will exist to kill in the executioner's place is to take the carpenter's place who takes the carpenter's place is bound to hurt his hands

Ta-Kao Only the Supreme Executioner kills. To kill in place of the Supreme Executioner is to hack instead of a greater carpenter. Now if one hacks in place of a great carpenter one can scarcely avoid cutting one's own hand.

Walker But killing itself should be the province of the great executioner alone. Trying to take his place and kill is like cutting wood in the place of the master carpenter: The odds are you'll hurt your own hand.

Wieger The servant of death (heaven), kills, (let him do it. Let us not do his work. He alone is capable of it). The man who wants to kill may end up like those who play with the carpenter's tools, and often lose a finger in their play.

World There are always official executioners and they are at one with killing. If you try to take their place, it is the same as trying to cut wood in place of the master carpenter. If you try to take the master carpenter's place, you will only succeed in cutting your hands.

Wu Is not the Great Executor always there to kill? To do the killing for the Great Executor Is to chop wood for a master carpenter, And you would be lucky indeed If you did not hurt your own hand!

Ch. 74	Sentence 2
Beck	If people were afraid of death, and lawbreakers could be caught and put to death, who would dare to do so?
Blackney	If you could always make them fear decease, As if it were a strange event and rare, Who then would dare to take and slaughter them?
Bynner	But even if these offenders feared death all day, Who would be rash enough To act as executioner?
Byrn	-
Chan	Suppose the people are always afraid of death and we can seize those who are vicious and kill them, Who would dare to do so?
Cleary	If people are made to fear death, and you catch them and kill them when they act oddly, who would dare?
Crowley	If the people feared death and I could put to death evil-doers, who would dare to offend?
Hansen	If you cause the people to constant fear of death And yet those who deem:act deviantly, we take, hold and kill them, who will dare do it?
LaFargue	Supposing the people always had the fear of death, and we could catch law breakers and kill them - who would dare?
Legge	If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?
Lindauer	Suppose people entirely respect death Yet there are those who act strange. I may obtain hold of them yet who would venture to be killing them?
LinYutan	Supposing that the people are afraid of death, And we can seize and kill the unruly, Who would dare to do so?
Mabry	If people live in constant fear of death, Because those who break the law are seized and killed, Who would dare to break the law?
McDonald	Even supposing the people are constantly afraid of death and we can seize and kill those who are unruly or vicious, who would dare to slay them?
Merel	If people were only afraid of death, And you executed everyone who did not obey, No one would dare to disobey you. Then what would be the use of an executioner?
Mitchell	If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve.
Muller	If you make the people continuously fear death By seizing anybody who does something out of the ordinary And killing them, Who will dare to move?
Red Pine	and if others fear death and still act perverse and we catch and kill them who else will dare
Ta-Kao	If the people were constantly afraid of death and we could arrest and kill those who commit treacheries, who then would dare to commit such?
Walker	If people have lives worth living, then the threat of death is meaningful, and they'll do what is right to avoid it.
Wieger	If they fear death, then only capture and execute those who cause disorder, turning the others away from doing likewise. (The legalists who are lavish with the death penalty and believe it will sort everything out, are therefore wrong).
World	When people are confused with the distinction of life and death, they fear death. If death is the penalty for breaking the law, the vast majority will be law abiding.
Wu	If you could make the people always afraid of death, And they still persisted in breaking the law, Then you might with reason arrest and execute them, And who would dare to break the law?

Ch. 74	Sentence 3
Beck	There is the Lord of Death who executes. Trying to do his job is like trying to cut wood for the Master Carpenter. Those who try to cut wood for the Master Carpenter rarely escape injuring their own hands.
Blackney	The executioner is always set To slay, but those who substitute for him Are like would-be master carpenters Who try to chop as that skilled craftsman does And nearly always mangle their own hands!
Bynner	Nature is executioner. When man usurps the place, A carpenter's apprentice takes the place of the master: And 'an apprentice hacking with the master's axe May slice his own hand.'
Byrn	Those who harm others are like inexperienced boys trying to take the place of a great lumberjack. Trying to fill his shoes will only get them seriously hurt.
Chan	There is always the master executioner (Heaven) who kills. To undertake executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for the master carpenter. Whoever undertakes hewing wood for the master carpenter rarely escapes injuring his own hands.
Cleary	There are always executioners. And to kill in the place of an executioner is taking the place of a master carver. Those who take the place of a master carver rarely avoid cutting their hands.
Crowley	There is one appointed to inflict death. He who would usurp that position resembles a hewer of wood doing the work of a carpenter. Such a one, presumptuous, will be sure to cut his own hands.
Hansen	Should we constant having a professional executor do the killing? To delegate a professional executor for killing, Is this called "delegating the great carpenter to chop"? Those who delegate the great carpenter to chop are few. It doesn't hurt his hand.
LaFargue	There is always The Executioner - he does the killing. Doing the killing in The Executioner's place, this is like "doing the cutting in the master carpenter's place." One who cuts in the master carpenter's place - seldom it is he does not cut his hand.
Legge	There is always One who presides over the infliction death. He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!
Lindauer	Entireness possesses that which is the master killer, killing.In the end taking the place Of that which is the master killer, killing Is appropriately called Taking the place of the great carpenter, carving. In the end take the place of the great carpenter, carving It is rarely true that a lack of wounding the hand goes with this.
LinYutan	Often it happens that the executioner is killed. And to take the place of the executioner Is like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter. He who handles the hatchet for the master carpenter seldom escapes injury to his hands.
Mabry	There has always been an official executioner. If you take the law into your own hands And try to take his place, It is like trying to take the place of a master carpenter In which case you would probably hurt your hands.
McDonald	There's always the master executioner (Heaven). To kill in his stead is like thrusting oneself into he master-carpenter's place and doing his chipping for him. "He who tries it is lucky if he doesn't cut his hand," they say. To undertake executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for him. It rarely happens you escape injuring your own hands. Now, often it happens as well that the executioner is killed - And to take the place of the executioner is in part like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter. He who handles the hatchet for the master carpenter seldom escapes injury to his hands.
Merel	People fear death because death is an instrument of fate. When people are killed by execution rather than by fate, This is like carving wood in the place of a carpenter. Those who carve wood in place of a carpenter Often injure their hands.
Mitchell	Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master carpenter's tools, chances are that you'll cut your hand.
Muller	There is always an official executioner to handle this. If you play the role of the official executioner It is like cutting wood in the capacity of Master Carpenter. There are few who will not cut their hands.
Red Pine	as long as people fear death the executioner will exist to kill in the executioner's place is to take the carpenter's place who takes the carpenter's place is bound to hurt his hands
Ta-Kao	Only the Supreme Executioner kills. To kill in place of the Supreme Executioner is to hack instead of a greater carpenter. Now if one hacks in place of a great carpenter one can scarcely avoid cutting one's own hand.
Walker	But killing itself should be the province of the great executioner alone. Trying to take his place and kill is like cutting wood in the place of the master carpenter: The odds are you'll hurt your own hand.
Wieger	The servant of death (heaven), kills, (let him do it. Let us not do his work. He alone is capable of it). The man who wants to kill may end up like those who play with the carpenter's tools, and often lose a finger in their play.
World	There are always official executioners and they are at one with killing. If you try to take their place, it is the same as trying to cut wood in place of the master carpenter. If you try to take the master carpenter's place, you will only succeed in cutting your hands.
Wu	Is not the Great Executor always there to kill? To do the killing for the Great Executor Is to chop wood for a master carpenter, And you would be lucky indeed If you did not hurt your own hand!