The Tao is always at ease.*
It overcomes without competing,
answers without speaking a word,
arrives without being summoned,
accomplishes without a plan.

Its net covers the whole universe.
And though its meshes are wide,
it doesn't let a thing slip through.**

^{---
(*) STEPHEN MITCHELL comments:
"At ease with herself, the Master puts
everyone else at ease."
---
(**) ELLEN M. CHEN comments:
"This chapter shows great religious fervor.
It marvels at the inscrutable ways of heaven,
then ends with a declaration of faith in
heaven's wonderful ways."}

Brave daring leads to death.
Brave caution leads to life.
The choice can be the right one
or the wrong one.

Who will interpret
the judgment of heaven?
Even the wise soul
finds it hard.

The way of heaven
doesn't compete
yet wins handily,
doesn't speak
yet answers fully,
doesn't summon
yet attracts.
It acts
perfectly easily.

The net of heaven
is vast, vast,
wide-meshed,
yet misses nothing.*

^{---
(*) HO-SHANG-KUNG [an ancient commentator] says:
"The net of heaven has wide meshes and is very large:
it overlooks the good and bad within us, though
nothing escapes it."}

Being overbold and confidant is deadly.
The wise use of caution will keep you alive.

One is the way to death,
and the other is the way to preserve your life.
Who can understand the workings of Heaven?

The Tao of the universe
does not compete, yet wins;
does not speak, yet responds;
does not command, yet is obeyed;
and does act, but is good at directing.

The nets of Heaven are wide,
but nothing escapes its grasp.

^---

One who is courageous out of daring is killed.
One who is courageous out of not daring lives.
Of these two, this is beneficial while
      that is harmful.
What heaven hates, who knows the reason?
Therefore even the sage takes it to be difficult.

The way of heaven:
Without contending, it is yet good at winning,
Without speaking, it is yet good in responding.
Without being beckoned, it yet comes of
      its own accord.
Unhurried, it is yet good at planning.
The net of heaven is vast,
Widely spaced, yet missing nothing.

^---

If one is brave in daring then one dies,
if one is brave in not-daring then one lives.
These two may each be harmful or beneficial:
Who knows why Heaven hates what it does?

The Way of Heaven is
to be good at subduing without contending,
good at answering without speaking,
good at coming without being summoned,
good at planning without uttering a word.

The net of Heaven is extensive indeed,
and though coarse, it lets nothing escape.

^---

Daring to do and die
is to be courageous in the outer world.
Daring to be and live
is to act courageously in the inner world.
Both can help — both can harm.
Why?
Even the wise have to admit they haven't
      got a clue.

Follow the Way of Heaven,
and you will succeed without struggling.
You will know the answer,
without asking the question.
All you need will come to you,
without being demanded.
You will be fulfilled without knowing desire.
The Way of Heaven is like a vast net,
although its meshes seem wide,
     it catches everything.

^---

Those who are courageous in feats of daring will die because of it;
While those whose courage is tempered by prudence will preserve their lives.
In these two cases, courage can either put one in harm's way, or be beneficial.
Who can understand why tian despises the things that it does?

Tian's way (dao) is winning the war without going to battle,
Is answering effectively without saying a word,
Is coming of its own accord without being summoned,
And is laying plans skillfully while remaining free and easy.

Tian's net is cast wide,
And although coarse in its mesh, nothing silps through it.

^---

(1) Heaven's (2) net (3) vast (4) vast (5) wide open (6) and yet (7) nothing (8) slips through