My Translation
| The highest virtue is like water | 上善若水 |
| Water’s virtue benefits all living things yet it doesn’t fight | 水善 利萬物 而不爭 |
| It dwells in places the masses loathe | 處 衆人 之所 惡 |
| Because it’s close to the Path | 故 幾於 道 |
| In dwelling, earth’s a virtue | 居 善 地 |
| In the heart, depth’s a virtue | 心 善 淵 |
| In giving, humanity’s a virtue | 與 善 仁 |
| In speech, trust is a virtue | 言 善 信 |
| In justice, governing’s a virtue | 正 善 治 |
| In affairs, ability’s a virtue | 事 善 能 |
| In action, time’s a virtue | 動 善 時 |
| Thus only by not fighting | 夫唯 不爭 |
| We can avoid fault | 故 無尤 |
Original Chinese
| Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
| | | |
| 上善若水。 | 上善若水。 | Shàng shàn ruò shuǐ. |
| 水善利萬物而不爭， | 水善利万物而不争， | Shuǐ shàn lì wàn wù ér bù zhēng, |
| 處衆人之所惡， | 处众人之所恶， | Chǔ zhòng rén zhī suǒ è, |
| 故幾於道。 | 故几于道。 | Gù jī yú dào. |
| 居善地， | 居善地， | Jū shàn de, |
| 心善淵， | 心善渊， | Xīn shàn yuān, |
| 與善仁， | 与善仁， | Yǔ shàn rén, |
| 言善信， | 言善信， | Yán shàn xìn, |
| 正善治， | 正善治， | Zhèng shàn zhì, |
| 事善能， | 事善能， | Shì shàn néng, |
| 動善時。 | 动善时。 | Dòng shàn shí. |
| 夫唯不爭， | 夫唯不争， | Fu wéi bù zhēng, |
| 故無尤。 | 故无尤。 | Gù wú yóu. |
Literal Translation
| 上善若水。 | Highest virtue similar/like water |
| 水善利萬物而不爭， | Water virtue benefits innumerable things yet not fight [innumerable things = all living things] |
| 處衆人之所惡， | Dwell masses people ’s actually loathe |
| 故幾於道。 | Reason/because almost on Path |
| 居善地， | Dwelling virtue earth |
| 心善淵， | Heart virtue deep/profound |
| 與善仁， | Giving virtue benevolence/humanity |
| 言善信， | Speech virtue trust |
| 正善治， | Proper/justice virtue govern |
| 事善能， | Affairs/work virtue ability |
| 動善時。 | Action virtue time |
| 夫唯不爭， | Man/those/thus only not contend |
| 故無尤。 | Hence lack fault |
Year:
2011
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