My Translation
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The highest virtue
is like water
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上善若水
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Water’s virtue
benefits all living things
yet it doesn’t fight
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水善
利萬物
而不爭
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It dwells
in places
the masses
loathe
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處
衆人
之所
惡
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Because
it’s close to
the Path
|
故
幾於
道
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In dwelling,
earth’s
a virtue
|
居
善
地
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In the heart,
depth’s
a virtue
|
心
善
淵
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In giving,
humanity’s
a virtue
|
與
善
仁
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In speech,
trust
is a virtue
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言
善
信
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In justice,
governing’s
a virtue
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正
善
治
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In affairs,
ability’s
a virtue
|
事
善
能
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In action,
time’s
a virtue
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動
善
時
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Thus only
by not fighting
|
夫唯
不爭
|
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We can
avoid fault
|
故
無尤
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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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上善若水。
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上善若水。
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Shàng shàn ruò shuǐ.
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水善利萬物而不爭，
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水善利万物而不争，
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Shuǐ shàn lì wàn wù ér bù zhēng,
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處衆人之所惡，
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处众人之所恶，
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Chǔ zhòng rén zhī suǒ è,
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故幾於道。
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故几于道。
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Gù jī yú dào.
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居善地，
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居善地，
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Jū shàn de,
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心善淵，
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心善渊，
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Xīn shàn yuān,
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與善仁，
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与善仁，
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Yǔ shàn rén,
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言善信，
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言善信，
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Yán shàn xìn,
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正善治，
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正善治，
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Zhèng shàn zhì,
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事善能，
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事善能，
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Shì shàn néng,
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動善時。
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动善时。
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Dòng shàn shí.
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夫唯不爭，
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夫唯不争，
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Fu wéi bù zhēng,
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故無尤。
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故无尤。
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Gù wú yóu.
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Literal Translation
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上善若水。
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Highest virtue similar/like water
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水善利萬物而不爭，
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Water virtue benefits innumerable things
yet not fight
[innumerable things = all living things]
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處衆人之所惡，
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Dwell masses people ’s actually loathe
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故幾於道。
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Reason/because almost on Path
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居善地，
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Dwelling virtue earth
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心善淵，
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Heart virtue deep/profound
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與善仁，
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Giving virtue benevolence/humanity
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言善信，
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Speech virtue trust
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正善治，
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Proper/justice virtue govern
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事善能，
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Affairs/work virtue ability
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動善時。
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Action virtue time
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夫唯不爭，
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Man/those/thus only not contend
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故無尤。
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Hence lack fault
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