After a great enmity is settled
some enmity always remains.
How to make peace?
Wise souls keep their part of the contract
and don't make demands on others.
People whose power is real fulfill
their obligations;      
people whose power is hollow insist
on their claims.     

The Way of heaven plays no favorites.
It always stays with the good.*

^{---
(*) URSULA K. LE GUIN comments:
"This chapter is equally relevant to private
relationships and to political treaties. Its realistic
morality is based on a mystical perception of
the fullness of the Way."}

After calming great anger
There are always resentments left over.
How can this be considered as goodness?
Therefore the sage keeps her part of the deal
And doesn't check up on the other person.

Thus virtuous officials keep their promise
And the crooked ones break it.

The Heavenly Tao has no favorites:

It raises up the Good.

^---

(1) heaven's (2) way (3) is not (4) partial (5) constantly/commonly (6) offering (7) goodness (8) to (all) people

Difficulties remain, even after solving a problem.
How then can we consider that as good?

Therefore the Master
does what she knows is right,
and makes no demands of others.
A virtuous person will do the right thing,
and persons with no virtue will take advantage of others.

The Tao does not choose sides,
the good person receives from the Tao
because she is on its side.

^---

Even though a truce is made between
great enemies,      
some enmity is bound to remain.
How can this be beneficial?

Therefore, the True Person
undertakes the obligations of the agreement
but makes no claim upon others.
The person who has Virtue shares with others.
The person who lacks Virtue takes fron others.

The way of heaven has no favorites;
it always remains with what is good.

^---

Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else
there is no end to the blame.

Therefore the Master
fulfills her own obligations
and corrects her own mistakes.
She does what she needs to do
and demands nothing of others.

^---

In bringing harmony to a situation of great enmity,
There is sure to be some animosity remaining.
How can such reconciliation be a success?

The sages, holding on to the left side of the tally,
Do not demand payment from others.

Persons of character (de) take charge of the tally
While persons who are lacking in character look to calling it due.

The way of tian shows no partiality.
It is really on the side of people who are good at their relationships.

^---