【道德经】英译 第一章

道可道，非常道；

名可名，非常名。

The Dao that can be spoken of is not the genuine and unchanging Dao. The name that can be named is not the genuine and unchanging name.

无名，天地之始；

有名，万物之母。

The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth. The Named is the Mother of all things.

故常无，欲以观其妙；

常有，欲以观其徼。

Therefore, in the realm of non-being, one can observe the profound laws of Dao at the existential level. In the realm of being, one can observe the manifest forms and outer fringe of Dao.

此两者同出而异名，同谓之玄。

These two, though having different names, are out of the same origin. Together, we call them the cosmic Mystery.

玄之又玄，众妙之门。

Reaching from the Mystery into the deeper mystery is the gateway to all that is subtle and marvelous.