My Translation
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Heaven and earth
are not kind
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天地
不仁
|
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Thus
all living things
serve
as fodder for dogs.
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以
萬物
為
芻狗
|
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The Sage
is not kind
|
聖人
不仁
|
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Thus
the common people
serve
as fodder for dogs.
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以
百姓
為
芻狗
|
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Among
the heavens and the earth
|
天地
之間
|
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It’s like
a key
to a bag that opens at both ends!
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其猶
橐
籥乎
|
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Empty yet
unyielding,
|
虛而
不屈
|
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Using yet
producing more.
|
動而
愈出
|
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Many words
enumerate
exhaustion—
|
多言
數
窮
|
|
It is better
to preserve
your center.
|
不如
守
中
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Original Chinese
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Traditional
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Simplified
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Pronunciation
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天地不仁，
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天地不仁，
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Tiān dì bù rén,
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以萬物為芻狗；
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以万物为刍狗；
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Yǐ wàn wù wéi chú gǒu;
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聖人不仁，
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圣人不仁，
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Shèng rén bù rén,
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以百姓為芻狗。
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以百姓为刍狗。
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Yǐ bǎi xìng wéi chú gǒu.
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天地之間，
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天地之间，
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Tiān dì zhī jiān,
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其猶橐籥乎？
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其犹橐籥乎？
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Qí yóu tuó yuè hu?
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虛而不屈，
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虚而不屈，
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Xū ér bù qū,
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動而愈出。
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动而愈出。
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Dòng ér yù chū.
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多言數窮，
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多言数穷，
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Duō yán shǔ qióng,
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不如守中。
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不如守中。
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Bù rú shǒu zhōng.
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Literal Translation
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天地不仁，
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Heaven earth not kindness
[not kindness = not benevolent, heartless]
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以萬物為芻狗；
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Thus ten-thousand things serve-as straw/fodder dog
[ten-thousand things = all living things]
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聖人不仁，
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Sage man not kindness
[not kindness = not benevolent, heartless]
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以百姓為芻狗。
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Thus hundred clans handle straw/fodder dog
[hundred clans = common people]
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天地之間，
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Heaven earth ’s/of between
[’s/of between = between, among, inter-]
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其猶橐籥乎？
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Its/that like a-bag-open-both-ends flute/key !
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虛而不屈，
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Empty/humble yet not bend
[not bend = unyielding, unbending]
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動而愈出。
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Use yet [the more…the more…] produce
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多言數窮，
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Much words fate/enumerated poor/exhausted
[much words = wordy/talkative]
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不如守中。
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Not like protect/observe center
[not like = it would be better to]
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