There was chaos before the existence of heaven and earth.
    有物混成，先天地生，

    ( It is ) Void and vast, independent and changeless, it may be the mother of heaven and earth.moving in cycle,  
    寂兮寥兮，独立不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母。

    Who has made them so?Heaven and earth.
    孰为此者？天地。

    I do not know its name and call it the divine law or perfunctorily style it the great.
    吾不知其名，字之曰道。强为之名曰大。

    The great will pass away, passing implies a long way, and however long, the way will return in the end.
    大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。

    So the divine law is great, so are heaven and earth, and so is man.
    故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。

    There are four things great in the universe, and man is one of them.
    域中有四大，而人居其一焉。

    Man imitates earth, earth imitates heaven, heaven follows the divine law, and the divine law follows nature.
    人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。

    It is natural to speak little.
    希言自然。

    A wanton wind cannot whisper all the morning; a sudden rain cannot howl all the day long.
    故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。

    Who has made them so?Heaven and earth.
    孰为此者？天地。

    Heaven and earth cannot speak long, not to speak of man.
    天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？

    Therefore, those who follow the divine law conform to it;
    德者同于德，失者同于失。

    Those who conform to the divine law are welcome to the divine;
    同于道者，道亦乐得之；

    those who conform to the human law are welcome to the human; 
    同於德者，德亦乐得之。

    those who conform to heaven are welcome to heaven.
    同于失者，失於乐得之。

    Some are not trustworthy enough, some, not at all.
    信不足，焉有不信焉。

    One who stands on tiptoe cannot stand firm; who makes big strides cannot walk long.
    企者不立；跨者不行。

    One who sees only himself has no good sight; who thinks only himself right cannot be recognized.
    自见者，不明；自是者，不彰。

    One who boasts of himself will not succeed; who thinks himself superior cannot be a leader.
    自伐者，无功；自矜者，不长。

    In the light of the divine law， such behavior is like superfluous food.
    其在道也，曰余食赘行，物或恶之。

    It is disliked by those who follow the divine law.
    故有道者不处。