From Kurdish by Ebdulrehman Efîf

1. The Way

1

The Way that can be experienced is not true;
The world that can be constructed is not true.
The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;
The world represents all that exists and may exist.
To experience without intention is to sense the world;
To experience with intention is to anticipate the world.
These two experiences are indistinguishable;
Their construction differs but their effect is the same.
Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way,
Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.

Tao ya merov dikare bide dű
Ne Tao a herheyî ű sermedî ye.
Navę ko tę bi nav kirin
Ne navę herheyî ű sermedî ye.
Bęnav ew e koka ezman ű
Erdę
Lewra bi-navkirin bingeh ű koka
Tiţtęn hezar e.
Heke hertim bę daxwaz bî, tu dę
Nediyar ű raz ű veţartiyan bibînî
Herdem ko bi daxwaz bî, tenę
Tę tiţtęn li ber çavan ű eţkere bibîne.
Veţartî ű eţkere yek in--
Dema xuya dibin
Baţqe tęn bi nav kirin.
Ev yekîtî raz ű sir e
Raz di hindirę raz de,
Deriyę bi aliyę serzîviran ű ecęban de ye.

2. Abstraction

2

When beauty is abstracted
Then ugliness has been implied;
When good is abstracted
Then evil has been implied.
So alive and dead are abstracted from nature,
Difficult and easy abstracted from progress,
Long and short abstracted from contrast,
High and low abstracted from depth,
Song and speech abstracted from melody,
After and before abstracted from sequence.
The sage experiences without abstraction,
And accomplishes without action;
He accepts the ebb and flow of things,
Nurtures them, but does not own them,
And lives, but does not dwell.

Her kes di cîhanę de tiţtę
Xweţik xweţik dibîne.
Di vir de nexweţikbűn heye.
Her kes tiţtę baţ baţ dibîne.
Di vir de ţer ű pîstî heye.
Ji lewre
Hebűn ű ne-hebűn yek ya dî
Çędike.
Zehmetî ű hesanî hev tînin.
Diręj ű kin hevdu bi sînor dikin.
Bilind ű nizim li ser hev radiwestin.
Pęţî ű dawî didin dű hev.
Ji lewre
Hiţmendî xwe bi ţęweyę wu-wie( kirina serbixwe) digire.
Ű hînkirina bęgotin dixebitîne.
Li vir, tiţtęn hezar çękirî ne,
hîn nehatine ji hev veqetandin.
Ji lewre hiţmendî berheman çędike
Bę wan bimelikîne,
Dike bę ti tiţtî hęvî bike
Ű tekűz ű temam dike bę
Di tekűzkirina xwe de berdewam bimîne.
Ű eyn bi xwe lewra ew di wan de
Timî namîne

3. Without Action

3

Not praising the worthy prevents contention,
Not esteeming the valuable prevents theft,
Not displaying the beautiful prevents desire.
In this manner the sage governs people:
Emptying their minds,
Filling their bellies,
Weakening their ambitions,
And strengthening their bones.
If people lack knowledge and desire
Then they can not act;
If no action is taken
Harmony remains.

Heke tu xwe bi yę jęhatî ű hęja
ţelaf mekî, tu dę kesęn din bike
nexwazęn-pevçűnę.
Heke ti qedrę entîke ű peręn pirr
Li ba te tinne be,
tu dę kesęn din dűrî diziyę bike.
Heke merovan tiţtęn balkęţ ű daxwazkirî
Nedîtin,
Ew dę nebin dilbijokî ű pevneçinin.
Ji lewre, dema hiţmend serokatiyę dike,
Ew seręn xelkę paqij dik,
Zikęn wan dadigire,
Daxwazęn wan qels dike
Ű hestiyęn wan xurt dike.
Ko merov bę ţehrezayî ű daxwazî hatin hiţtin
Dę ramanvan ű rewţenbîr newęribin îţęn
Xwe ji tiţtęn ji wan re ne pęwîst bînin.
Bike bę fen ű fűt ű plan, wę
Ti kęmaniya bi a te bę kirin tinne be.

4. Limitless

4

The Way is a limitless vessel;
Used by the self, it is not filled by the world;
It cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled;
Its depths are hidden, ubiquitous and eternal;
I don’t know where it comes from;
It comes before nature.

Tao wisa berfireh e ko dema
Tu wę bi kar tînî, timî tiţtek
Dimîne.
Ew çiqasî kűr e!
Dixuye mîna ko ew pîrka herî
Pęţî ya hezaręn tiţtan be.
Tűjbűnę ko dike
Girękan vedike
Ţewqa bęhawe dijwar hűr dike
Ew wisa tije ye!
Dixuye mîna jibermayęn wę hebin.
Ew zaroka ez- nizanim- kę ye.
Ű berheya Xwedayę kevnar yę
Li jor e. (berî wî hebű)

5. Nature

5

Nature is not kind;
It treats all things impartially.
The Sage is not kind,
And treats all people impartially.
Nature is like a bellows,
Empty, yet never ceasing its supply.
The more it moves, the more it yields;
So the sage draws upon experience
And cannot be exhausted.

Ezman ű Erd ne merovane ne,
ű merovan mîna kűçikęn pűţ dinirxînin.
Hiţmendî ne merovane ye,
ű her tiţtî mîna kűçikęn pűţ dinirxîne.
Valayiya di navbera Ezman ű Erdę
De mîna qîrînekę ye :
Wę vala bike, ew xelas nabe.
Wę biguvęţe ű pirrtir ję dertę.
Pirsa lę bi pirr gotinan
Ne mîna xwegirtina bi ortę ű navendę ye.

6. Experience

6

Experience is a riverbed,
Its source hidden, forever flowing:
Its entrance, the root of the world,
The Way moves within it:
Draw upon it; it will not run dry.

Giyanę newalę ti carî namire.
Navę wî`męya veţartî ye.´
Deriyę vę męya nenas ű veţartî
´ koka Ezman ű Erdę ´ tę bi nav kirin.
Berdewam, dixuye ko dimîne.
Wę bixebitîne bę ko tu xwe pirr biwestînî

7. Complete

7

Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.
The sage places himself after and finds himself before,
Ignores his desire and finds himself content.
He is complete because he does not serve himself.

Ezman ű Erd herdemî ne.
Sedemę ko Ezman ű Erd
Dikarin będawî bin
Ew e ji lewre ne ew xwe tînin.
Ű wisa, ew herdem sax in.
Ji lewre, hiţmendî xwe dike a dawî
Ű ew a pęţî ye.
Ew ji dervî xwe ye ű loma
Xweya (nefs) wę her heye.
Ma ne ji ber bęeziya wę ye
Ko ew xwe tekűz ű pęrfękt dike?

8. Water

8

The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.
So the sage:
Lives within nature,
Thinks within the deep,
Gives within impartiality,
Speaks within trust,
Governs within order,
Crafts within ability,
Acts within opportunity.
He does not contend, and none contend against him.

Baţiya herî bilind mîna avę ye.
Av bi hesanî sűd digihîne hemű tiţtan bę
Pevçűn.
Bi ser ko ew tiţtinan li ser xwe hildigire
Ko zilam nahebînin.
Ji lewre ew mîna Tao e.
Bo tę de ű li ser bijîn, erd baţ e.
Bo hiţ ű aqil, kűrbűn baţ e.
Baţbűna danę ko di wextę xwe de be.
Baţbűna axaftinę di
Gotina rastiyę de ye.
Di hikűmetę de, bi xwe-karîbűn ű hayjixwe baţ e.
Di çaredîtina ji îţan re, karîbűn ű hostetî baţ e.
Heke tu pevneçinî, gazin wę ji te neyęn kirin.

9. Retire

9

Fill a cup to its brim and it is easily spilled;
Temper a sword to its hardest and it is easily broken;
Amass the greatest treasure and it is easily stolen;
Claim credit and honour and you easily fall;
Retire once your purpose is achieved — this is natural.

Heke bernedî ta tije bibe ne
Wisa baţ e mîna rawestî ű bisekinî.
Ű ţűrę pirr ű zęde tűjkirî, zor
Berdewam nake.
Odeyeke bi zęr ű mircanan miţtkirî
Nayę parastin.
Payekirina bi mal ű milkan
Mirina te bi xwe re tîne.
Piţtî bidawîkirina kar, bi paţ de vegere.
Ev e Ręçka Ezman.

10. Harmony

10

Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing your mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.

Giyanę dilbijok ű daxwazok ű pęlda
Vehesîne ű bitebitîne
Ű zeft bi yekîtiyę bigire:
Ma tu dikarî dűrî veqetandin ű cihębűnę
Herî ?
Liv ű hęla xwe bixebitîne bo windakirin
Ű nemana bęhntengiyę:
Tu dikarî mîna zarokekî bî?
Di pak ű paqijkirina jiyana hindirę xwe de:
Ma tu dikarî wę berdî ű serfiraz ű azad bikî?
Di hezkirina ji merovan re ű biręvebirina dewletę
De:
Tu dikarî dűrî lîsk ű tep ű rîpan bî?
Di vekirin ű girtina dergehę ezman de:
Tu dikarî mę bî ?
Di ronahîkirina hemű gerdűnę de:
Tu dikarî ji hiţ ű aqil azad bî?
Jidayikbűnę bidęyę ű wę bi xwarin bike.
Bera ew berhema te be lę meke ya xwe.
Bike bę ko tu li hęviya tiţtekî bî.
Yę serek ű serkeftî be, lę berpirsyariyę
Ű biręvebirinę ji xwe re nexebitîne.
Ev navę wę qenciya nediyar ű nenas e.

11. Tools

11

Thirty spokes meet at a nave;
Because of the hole we may use the wheel.
Clay is moulded into a vessel;
Because of the hollow we may use the cup.
Walls are built around a hearth;
Because of the doors we may use the house.
Thus tools come from what exists,
But use from what does not.

Sîh tîręjk di nîvę çerx ű dűlab de
Digihęn hev.
Ji ber ew tiţtę hîn tinne ye ko
Erebe bi sűd ű fęde ye.
Herî dibe ţerbik.
Ji ber valahiya ţerbik e ko
Ew bi fęde ye.
Deriyan ű pencereyan jębike
Da tu odakę çębikî.
Ji ber valahiya wę ye ko
Ode bi xęr ű bęr e.
Ji lewre, tiţtę ko aniha heye tę
Xebitandin bo wergirtina
Fędę ű sűd.
Lę di tinnebűnę ű nelivirbűnę de
Fęde ű sűdę herî pirr heye.

12. Substance

12

Too much colour blinds the eye,
Too much music deafens the ear,
Too much taste dulls the palate,
Too much play maddens the mind,
Too much desire tears the heart.
In this manner the sage cares for people:
He provides for the belly, not for the senses;
He ignores abstraction and holds fast to substance.

Rengęn pęnc çavęn me kor dikin.
Dengęn pęnc guhęn me ker dikin.
Tamęn pęnc zimanę me ţaţ dikin.
Cirîd ű nęçîr hiţę me ţęt ű dîn dikin.
Hebűna xizne ű peręn pirr
Dan ű stendineke ziyan ű tadetije
Diafirîne.
Ji lewre hiţmendî bętir hay ű qedir
Dide orte ű navenda xwe, ű
Ne çavęn xwe.
Wan ji bîr dike ű ortę dibijęre.

13. Self

13

Both praise and blame cause concern,
For they bring people hope and fear.
The object of hope and fear is the self -
For, without self, to whom may fortune and disaster occur?
Therefore,
Who distinguishes himself from the world may be given the world,
But who regards himself as the world may accept the world.

Li kęmqedir ű bęnirxkirinę mîna ew
Matmayinek be temaţe bike.
Bextreţiyę mîna ew ti bi xwe be binirxîne.
Çi mebesta min ji `mîna kęmqedirgirtin
Matmayinek be´ ?
Heke tu ne paye bî
Gihiţtin ű pękanîn matmayinek e
Ű wisa ew winda ne.
Ji lewre min got.`bęqedirkirinę mîna ew
Matmayin be bipijęre.´
Çi qesd ű mebesta min ji `mîna ew tu bi xwe bî
Bextreţiya herî mezin binirxîne`?
Heke eza min (nefsa min) tinne be,
çawa wę bextreţî bi serę min bę?
Ji lewre, heke tu jiyîna xwe
Bo pękanîn ű fędęn dinę dikî qurban,
tu dikarî xwe bispęrî dinę.
Heke tu ji vę xwebiqurbankirinę hez dikî
Tu dikarî bę sipartinî bextę dinę.

14. Mystery

14

Looked at but cannot be seen — it is beneath form;
Listened to but cannot be heard — it is beneath sound;
Held but cannot be touched — it is beneath feeling;
These depthless things evade definition,
And blend into a single mystery.
In its rising there is no light,
In its falling there is no darkness,
A continuous thread beyond description,
Lining what can not occur;
Its form formless,
Its image nothing,
Its name silence;
Follow it, it has no back,
Meet it, it has no face.
Attend the present to deal with the past;
Thus you grasp the continuity of the Way,
Which is its essence.

Lę bigere, nayę dîtin.
Nave wę dűrbűn e.
Lę guhdarî bike, nayę bihîstin.
Navę wę a kęm e.
Xwe diręjî wę bike, pę nayę girtin.
Navę wę a hűr ű jîr e.
Ev hersî kűrbűnęn bilind
Nayęn pîvan.
Ji lewre ew digihęjin hev bo bibin yek.
Jora wę ne ronî ye ;
Binę wę ne tarî ye ;
Bęrawestin ew heye, nayę
Bi nav kirin ű vedigere ne- tiţtbűnę.
Wisa, navę wę bűye awayę bę awe,
Węneya ne- tiţtî.
Ev navę wę nediyarî ű tarîtiya herî mezin e.
Here cem wę, tu nikarî rűyę wę
Bibînî.
Bide dű, tu nikarî piţta wę bibînî.
Heke tu Tao a kevnar zeft bikî
Tu dę bikaribî heyina anihane baţ
Bixebitînî
Ű despęka despękane nas bikî.
Ev navę wę tayę Tao ę herî pęţiyane ye.

15. Enlightenment

15

The enlightened possess understanding
So profound they can not be understood.
Because they cannot be understood
I can only describe their appearance:
Cautious as one crossing thin ice,
Undecided as one surrounded by danger,
Modest as one who is a guest,
Unbounded as melting ice,
Genuine as unshaped wood,
Broad as a valley,
Seamless as muddy water.
Who stills the water that the mud may settle,
Who seeks to stop that he may travel on,
Who desires less than may transpire,
Decays, but will not renew.

Hostęn Tao ęn kevnar
Hiţmendiyeke wan î razane
Î seyr î hűr î bęawe hebű
Kűrbűneke ko nayę nas kirin.
Ű eyn bi xwe ji ber ko ew nayęn nas kirin
Em bivęn nevęn bal ű hayę xwe didin
Derketin ű xuyakirina wan .
Wisa ji xwe ne bawer, mîna kesekî
Çemekî bi qeţa derbas bike.
Amade, mîna kesekî ji cîranęn
Xwe yęn li hawirdor bitirse.
Qedir ű ręzgirtî, mîna męvanekî.
Nerm ű azad, mîna qeţa li ber ko bihile.
Rast ű rast bi pęţ ve, mîna perçakî
Text î sade î nekolayî.
Vekirî, mîna newalę.
ţevreţ ű nenaskirî, mîna ava bi herî.
Kî dikare tevhev be, ű zelalbűnę
Bi kar bîne da hędî- hędî ronî bibe
Ű biçirisîne ?
Kî dikare aram ű hęmin be, ű xwestekeke
Asę ű xurt bi kar bîne bo serkeftineke dawî
Pęk bîne?
Yę dide ser vę riyę dil nabijîne
Bicihanînę.
Bi hűrî ji lewre ew dil nabijîne
Bicihanînę.
Ew belkî ţikestî ű westiyayî be
Lę dike bę vegereke zű li
Tiţtęn berę ko wî kirine.

16. Decay and Renewal

16

Empty the self completely;
Embrace perfect peace.
The world will rise and move;
Watch it return to rest.
All the flourishing things
Will return to their source.
This return is peaceful;
It is the flow of nature,
An eternal decay and renewal.
Accepting this brings enlightenment,
Ignoring this brings misery.
Who accepts nature’s flow becomes all-cherishing;
Being all-cherishing he becomes impartial;
Being impartial he becomes magnanimous;
Being magnanimous he becomes natural;
Being natural he becomes one with the Way;
Being one with the Way he becomes immortal:
Though his body will decay, the Way will not.

Valabűnę bibe ta radeya wę a dawî
Bera będengî ű aramî tekűz ű temam bin.
Hezaręn tiţtan bi hev re dixebitin
Di ţahiyeke műzîkane de.
Ji lewre ez li vegera wan temaţe dikim.
Hemű tiţt gulan vedidin ű her yek vedigere
Qűrm ű koka xwe.
Vegera kokę
Nave wę będengî ű aramî ye.
Aramî navę wę vegera jiyînę ye.
Vegera jiyînę nave wę xurtî ye.
Naskirina vę xurtiyę navę wę
Ronahîbűyin e.
Dan ű stendina bi zordarî bę
Naskirina tiţtę asę ű xurt ű rast
Tije tade ű ziyan e.
Naskirina asęyiyę ű rastiyę eręyî ye,
ű ev jî orte ű bępartîtî ye.
Nepartîtî ţahinţahî ye.
Ţahinţahî ezman e.
Ezman Tao e
Tao nemir e
Herheyî ye.
Tu bę laţ dimînî,
Lębelę tu namirî.

17. Rulers

17

The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects;
The next best are loved and praised;
The next are feared;
The next despised:
They have no faith in their people,
And their people become unfaithful to them.
When the best rulers achieve their purpose
Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.

Ji destpęka demęn kevnar ű bi vir de
Wan ew nas kir ű ew kirin ya xwe.
Nifţę bi dű wan de ję hez kirin
Ű ew pesin dan.
Nifţę dî ję bi tirs bűn.
Ű yę dî rihęn wan ję diçű.
Heke tu ne rastgo bî ti kes ji
Te bawer nake.
Çiqasî ew bi gotinęn xwe yęn biha re
Haydar e!
Dema gotinęn wę tekűz dibin
Ű karę wę xelas dibe,
Her kes dibęje:` me ew kar kir!´

18. Hypocrisy

18

When the Way is forgotten
Duty and justice appear;
Then knowledge and wisdom are born
Along with hypocrisy.
When harmonious relationships dissolve
Then respect and devotion arise;
When a nation falls to chaos
Then loyalty and patriotism are born.

Dema Tao a mezin tinne bibe
Wę jen ű dadmandî bęn holę.
Dema ţehrezayî belav bibe ű kifţ bibe
Wę tep ű rîpęn mezin çębibin.
Dema hersî tękiliyęn mezin ne li
Gor hev bin
Wę kirina bi a dę ű bav ű dilovanî ű
Dilpęţewitîn li wir bin.
Dema welat di serobiniyę de be
Minsterę dilsoz wę derkevin pęţ.

19. Simplify

19

If we could abolish knowledge and wisdom
Then people would profit a hundredfold;
If we could abolish duty and justice
Then harmonious relationships would form;
If we could abolish artifice and profit
Then waste and theft would disappear.
Yet such remedies treat only symptoms
And so they are inadequate.
People need personal remedies:
Reveal your naked self and embrace your original nature;
Bind your self-interest and control your ambition;
Forget your habits and simplify your affairs.

Dev ji `pîroziyę´ berde ű bera
`zanayiyę´ de ű wę merov
Sed ji sedî nirx ű fędę werbigirn.
Dev ji `hezkirina kesęn din´berde
Ű bera `dadmendiyę´de ű dę merov
Bi ya dę ű bavan dîsa bikin ű dilovan bibin.
Xwe ji ţehrezayiyę xelas ke ű fędę
Biqewirîne, ű dę diz ű rębir nemînin.
Ew hersiyęn jor gotin tenę ne,
Ew kęm in ű tęr nakin.
Ji lewre divę tiţtekî dî hebe ko wan
Di xwe de bihewîne.
Ę kokane ű bingehî bibîne ű
Li awayę necudabűyî miqate be.
Jixweheziyę kęm bike ű daxwazan
Hindik bike.

20. Wandering

20

What is the difference between assent and denial?
What is the difference between beautiful and ugly?
What is the difference between fearsome and afraid?
The people are merry as if at a magnificent party
Or playing in the park at springtime,
But I am tranquil and wandering,
Like a newborn before it learns to smile,
Alone, with no true home.
The people have enough and to spare,
Where I have nothing,
And my heart is foolish,
Muddled and cloudy.
The people are bright and certain,
Where I am dim and confused;
The people are clever and wise,
Where I am dull and ignorant;
Aimless as a wave drifting over the sea,
Attached to nothing.
The people are busy with purpose,
Where I am impractical and rough;
I do not share the peoples’ cares
But I am fed at nature’s breast.

Xwe ji `hînbűnę´ xelas ke
Ű wę ti netebatî ű lez ű tirs nemîne.
Çiqa cudatî di navbera
`erę ´ ű `na´ de heye?
Çiqasî ji hevdu dűr in
`baţ´ ű `pîs´?
Bi ser de, tiţtę ko xelk ję dilbitirs in
Nayę ji bîr kirin.
Ez ţaţ ű belvbűyî me, yekcar li
Navenda xweţ nemame.
Her merov dilţa ű bi kęf in, mîna
Ko di ţahiya qurbaneke mezin de bin,
an hildikiţin ser ţanoya Biharę.
Ez bitenę dimînim, bę ko min xwe ta niha
Diyar kiribe.
An mîna zarokekî navpęçekî hîn nekeniyaye.
Westiyayî, mîna kesekî bęhęvî dibe
Ji hebűna xaniyekî ko vegeręyę.
Merov hemű zędetir kęf dikin
Ji ber min her tiţt li dű xwe hiţt.
Ez bi hiţęn kesęn din nezan im.
Wisa hiţgiran im!
Merovęn orte ű normal zelal in
Ű ronî ne, ez tenę ez tarî ű veţartî me.
Kesęn orte her tiţtî dizanin.
Ji min tenę re her tiţt nixumandî dixuye.
Wisa rast!
Mîna oqyanosę.
Li derdorę hildipeke ű pęl dide!
Wiha dixuye ko ti cih bo bęhnderxistinę nîne.
Her kes armanceke di serî de heye.
Ez tenę ez wisa nezan im mîn gundiyekî.
Ez tenę ji merovan cuda me.
Ez tenę ko dayik min bi xwarin dike
Dilţa me.

21. Accept

21

Harmony is only in following the Way.
The Way is without form or quality,
But expresses all forms and qualities;
The Way is hidden and implicate,
But expresses all of nature;
The Way is unchanging,
But expresses all motion.
Beneath sensation and memory
The Way is the source of all the world.
How can I understand the source of the world?
By accepting.

Awayę qenciya mezin tiţtek e
Tenę Tao dikare bide dű.
Tao mîna ´tiţtekî` hew nexuyayî ye
Ű tarîtî ye.
Çawa nexuyayî !çawa tarîtî ! Tę de awe
Heye.
Çawa nexuyayî !çawa tarîtî ! Tę de
Tiţt hene.
Çawa kűr ! çawa ţevreţ ! tę de
Navk ű cewher heye.
Navk wisa rast e- a tę de
Bawerî ye.
Ji aniha ta sedsalęn kevnar ű entîke,
navę wę dev ję bernedaye, wisa
em dikarin li hemű kokan ű çavkaniyan hűr bibin.
Çawa awayę hemű çavkaniyan ű kokan
Dizanim?
Bi riya wę.

22. Home

22

Accept and you become whole,
Bend and you straighten,
Empty and you fill,
Decay and you renew,
Want and you acquire,
Fulfill and you become confused.
The sage accepts the world
As the world accepts the Way;
He does not display himself, so is clearly seen,
Does not justify himself, so is recognized,
Does not boast, so is credited,
Does not pride himself, so endures,
Does not contend, so none contend against him.
The ancients said, “Accept and you become whole”,
Once whole, the world is as your home.

Ę tekűz nebűye wę tekűz bibe.
Ę xwar dę rast bibe.
Ę vala dę bę dagirtin.
Ę kevin wę bę nű kirin.
Bi hindikan re bicihanîn heye
Bi pirrbűnę re tevhevî ű ţaţtî heye.
Ji lewre hiţmendî bi tiţtekî tenę digire
Ű dibe niműne ű modęl ji heműyan re.
Ew xwe nayine pęţ, ű
Ji lewre eţkere ye.
Bi zor xwe nade çesipandin, ű
Ji lewre tę çesipandin ű dibe xwedî maf.
Xwe paye nake ű ji lewre bi qedir e.
Berxwedan ű ţer nake ű ji lewre
Serkeftî ye..
Ű eyn bi xwe ji ber ew bi ti kesî re
Nakeve berberî ű dijatiyę, ti kes
Nikare li himberî wę bisekine ű dijatiya wę
Bike.
Çawa emę karibin li gotina kevnaran,
´ę tekűz nebűye wę tekűz bibe´ mîna ko ew
gotineke vala be binerin?
Bi tekűzkirinę ű temamkirinę bawer
bike ű vegere wę.

23. Words

23

Nature says only a few words:
High wind does not last long,
Nor does heavy rain.
If nature’s words do not last
Why should those of man?
Who accepts harmony, becomes harmonious.
Who accepts loss, becomes lost.
For who accepts harmony, the Way harmonizes with him,
And who accepts loss, the Way cannot find.

Heke hindik biaxivî ev jixweyî(xwezayî) ye.
Ji lewre bahoz tevaya sibehę ranabe
Ű barana ţirîn jî tevaya roję namîne.
Kî van tiţtan dike? Ezman ű
Erd.
Heke ezman ű erd nikaribin
Çębűneke bęrawestin bînin pę
Çawa merov dę karibin?
Ji lewre tiţtek heye ję re dibęjin
Kirinęn xwe li gor Tao ko bikî.
Heke tu li gor Tao bî
Tę bibe yek pę re.
Heke tu li gor qenciyę bî
Tę bibe yek pę re.
Heke tu li gor windakirinę bî
Tę bibe yek pę re.
Tao bi dilxweţî ligorbűnę hembęz dike
Qencî bi dilţadî li ligorbűnę dinere.
Windakirin jî bi dilkęfî ligorbűnę hembęz dike.
Heke tu nehęjayî bawerpękirinę bî, merov
Bi te bawer nakin.

24. Indulgence

24

Straighten yourself and you will not stand steady;
Display yourself and you will not be clearly seen;
Justify yourself and you will not be respected;
Promote yourself and you will not be believed;
Pride yourself and you will not endure.
These behaviours are wasteful, indulgent,
And so they attract disfavour;
Harmony avoids them.

Heke li ser serętiliyan rawestî, tę ne xurt
di cihę xwe de bî
Herdu çîqęn te dűrî hev bin, tu nikarî bimeţî.
Ko tu xwe eţkere ű diyar bikî, tu dę neyę
Dîtin.
Heke tu xwe bi zor bidî pejirandin,
tu dę ronî nekî.
Heke tu xwe qure ű paye bikî, wę kes
Qedrę te megire.
Heke tu xwe bilind bikî, tę bę serkeftin bî.
Yęn li gor Tao dijîn wan wisa bi nav dikin.
Xwarina jibermayî ű kirinęn winda
Ű ti kes ji wan hez nake.
Ji lewre kesę Tao ę
Wilo nake.

25. Beneath Abstraction

25

There is a mystery,
Beneath abstraction,
Silent, depthless,
Alone, unchanging,
Ubiquitous and liquid,
The mother of nature.
It has no name, but I call it “the Way”;
It has no limit, but I call it “limitless”.
Being limitless, it flows away forever;
Flowing away forever, it returns to my self:
The Way is limitless,
So nature is limitless,
So the world is limitless,
And so I am limitless.
For I am abstracted from the world,
The world from nature,
Nature from the Way,
And the Way from what is beneath abstraction.

Tiţtek heye ko di tevheviya xwe de
Pęrfękt e
Ya ko berî ezman ű erdę ji dayik bűye.
Wiha będeng ű bitenę!
Xwe dadimezirîne bę nűkirin
Bi awakî gerdűnî dixebite bę kęmasî.
Em dikarin wę mîna dayika her tiţtî
Bibînin.
Ez navę wę nizanim.
Ji lewre, heke zor li min hat bo wę bi nav bikim,
Dę bi ´Tao´ bang bikęmę.
Ko bi zor divę ez beţę wę bibęjim, ezę bibęjim
`mezin´ e.
Mezinahî bęsînorbűnę ű nediyarbűnę dide.
Neeţkerebűn ű bęsînorbűn çűna-dűr dide.
Çűna- dűr vegerę dide.
Ji lewre, Tao mezin e, ezman mezin e,
erd mezin e
Ű merov jî mezin e.
Merov didin dű erdę.
Erd dide dű ezman
Ezman dide dű Tao
Tao dide dű riya çawabűna tiţtan.

26. Calm

26

Gravity is the source of lightness,
Calm, the master of haste.
A lone traveller will journey all day, watching over his belongings;
Yet once safe in his bed he will lose them in sleep.
The captain of a great vessel will not act lightly or hastily.
Acting lightly, he loses sight of the world,
Acting hastily, he loses control of himself.
A captain can not treat his great ship as a small boat;
Rather than glitter like jade
He must stand like stone.

Giranbűn rehę sivikbűnę ye.
Aramî ű hęmenî serdestę netebatbűnę ne.
Ji lewre hiţmend tevaya roję digere
Bę ko barę xwe ę giran deyne.
Bi ser ko belkî pirr dîmen ű tiţt hebin
Bo li wan binere
Lę di ber wan re bi sivikayî dibihure.
Ko ev wisa be
Çawa dę serdestę dewleteke mezin
Hayjixwe be ű ţehreza be
Ko wî xelk ji bîra kirin ű guh li wan nekir?
Ko bi sivikayî here wan, tu dę qurmęn xwe
Winda bikî.
Ko ne giran ű xurt bî, tu dę serdestiya xwe
Ji dest bixî.

27. Perfection

27

The perfect traveller leaves no trail to be followed;
The perfect speaker leaves no question to be answered;
The perfect accountant leaves no working to be completed;
The perfect container leaves no lock to be closed;
The perfect knot leaves no end to be ravelled.
So the sage nurtures all men
And abandons no one.
He accepts everything
And rejects nothing.
He attends to the smallest details.
So the strong must guide the weak,
For the weak are raw material to the strong.
If the guide is not respected,
Or the material is not cared for,
Confusion will result, no matter how clever one is.
This is the secret of perfection:
When raw wood is carved, it becomes a tool;
When a man is employed, he becomes a tool;
The perfect carpenter leaves no wood to be carved.

Ręwiyekî jęhatî ti ţopan li dű xwe nahęle
Gotareke baţ ji dîtina ţaţtiyan ű kęmaniyan li cem
kesęn din vala ye.
Jimęrkarekî zîrek ne pędiviyî jimęrer e.
Deriyekî baţ-girtî dę girtî bimîne bę ko kes pę bigire.
Ţidandin ű asękirina baţ dę bimîne bę
Ko bę giręk kirin jî.
Bi vî ţęweyî ű islűbî hiţmendî
Xelkę bi zîrekî hîn dike
Ji lewre jî ew kesekî ji hînkirina xwe
Ji bîr nake ű bi dűr naxe.
Herdem ew hoste ye di alîkirina bi tiţtan re
Ji lewre ew ti tiţtî navęje.
Ev navę wę ´bicihanîna ronahiyę´ ye.
Loma jî, ęn baţ mamostęn yęn
Ne-wisa- baţ in.
Ű kesęn ne-wisa- baţ berpirsyariya
Ęn baţ in.
Heke tu mamostę xwe hęja nenirxînî
An ji ţagirtęn xwe hez nekî:
li gel tu zîrek ű ţehreza bî jî,
tu bi xwe bi qeysî libęn qűmę ţaţ î.
Ev navę wę kűrbűn ű hűrbűna kokane ye.

28. Becoming

28

Using the male, being female,
Being the entrance of the world,
You embrace harmony
And become as a newborn.
Using strength, being weak,
Being the root of the world,
You complete harmony
And become as unshaped wood.
Using the light, being dark,
Being the world,
You perfect harmony
And return to the Way.

Nęrtiyę binase, riya xwe ber bi mętiyę ve
Bibe
Bera tu newalek bî ji her kesî re.
Heke tu buyî newalek ji her kesî re
Tu herdem di qenciyan de yî
Bę ketin ű ţemitandin
Ű vedigerî zarokbűnę.
Sipî binase, riya xwe bi aliyę reţ ve
Here
Bibe modęl ű idyal ji her kesî re.
Ko buyî idyal ű modęl ji her kesî re
Tu dę di qenciyan de bî ű bę ţaţtî bî
Tu dę vegerî bęsînorbűnę ű ti tixűb wę
Ji te re nîn bin.
Payebűn ű navdariyę binase lę
Riya xwe bi aliyę xwebiçűkdîtinę ve hilkiţe
Bibe newal ji her kesî re.
Dema ko kok ű rehęn te di qenciyę de
Erd girtin ű kamil bűn
Tu dę vegerî awe ű heyina
`perçę nejękirî´
Perçe jębűye ű bűye pirr pęker(edat)
Hiţmendî pękeran bo bicihanîna rolan
Bi kar tîne.
Ji lewre terziyę mezin ti carî jęnake.

29. Ambition

29

Those who wish to change the world
According with their desire
Cannot succeed.
The world is shaped by the Way;
It cannot be shaped by the self.
Trying to change it, you damage it;
Trying to possess it, you lose it.
So some will lead, while others follow.
Some will be warm, others cold
Some will be strong, others weak.
Some will get where they are going
While others fall by the side of the road.
So the sage will be neither wasteful nor violent.

Heke tu bixwazî cîhanę
Ji xwe re bistînî ű bibî biręvebir ű
Serokę wę
Ez dikarim bibînim ko tu bi ser nakevî
Ű tu dę bę serfirazî bî.
Cîhan firaxeke ji can ű giyan e, nayę
Bin dest xistin ű kontrol kirin.
Lîsker ű guher tiţtan gemar ű tevhev dikin.
Ű yęn dixwazin dest deyinin ser wan ű ji xwe re bibin
Ew winda dikin. Ji lewre:
Carna tu ręber î
Carna tu dadűyer î
Carna tu bęhnteng î
Carna tu bęhnfireh î
Carna tu xurt î
Carna tu qels î
Carna tu diţkînî
Cana tu tę ţkenandin.
Ji lewre, hiţmendî ji zędebűnę baz dide
Ji xwestin ű daxwazęn zęde direve
Ji payebűn ű pozhildayiyę bi dűr dikeve.

30. Violence

30

Powerful men are well advised not to use violence,
For violence has a habit of returning;
Thorns and weeds grow wherever an army goes,
And lean years follow a great war.
A general is well advised
To achieve nothing more than his orders:
Not to take advantage of his victory.
Nor to glory, boast or pride himself;
To do what is dictated by necessity,
But not by choice.
For even the strongest force will weaken with time,
And then its violence will return, and kill it.

Heke tu Tao mîna pirinsîpekî bo
Biręvebirina xelkę bixebitînî
Tu dę bi hęza leţkerî zordariyę li wan mekî.
Tiţtę li dor digere li dor vedigere.
Cihę ko serokleţker lę daniye
Strî ű daręn striyan lę mezn dibin.
Di ţiyarbűna leţkeriyeke mezin de
Saline pirr ji birçîbűnę ű xela tęn pę.
Heke tu tiţtę dikî zanibî
Tu dę tiţtę pęwîst bikî ű
Li wir bisekinî.
Bibe serî lę pozbilindiyę meke
Bibe serî bę tu diyar bikî
Bibe serî lę bę payeyî
Bibe serî lę bę hilkirin
Bibe serî lę bę zordarî.
Dema tiţt ţaxan ű kulîlkan didin
Piţtre diçilmisin.
Ev navę wę ne-Tao e
Tiţtę ne-Tao e kurt-jîn e.

31. Armies

31

Armies are tools of violence;
They cause men to hate and fear.
The sage will not join them.
His purpose is creation;
Their purpose is destruction.
Weapons are tools of violence,
Not of the sage;
He uses them only when there is no choice,
And then calmly, and with tact,
For he finds no beauty in them.
Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men;
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace.
So slaughters must be mourned
And conquest celebrated with a funeral.

Silehęn tűj aletin deyűz in.
Herkes rihę wî ji wan dire.
Ji lewre zilamę Tao bi wan re
Ne rihet e.
Di îţęn hindirî yęn ciwamęran de
Çep cihę rűmet ű naműsę ye.
Di îţęn leţkerî de rast cihę
Naműsę ye.
Ji ber çek ű sileh aletin deyűz in,
loma ew ne alav ű aletęn ciwamęran in
Wisa ew wan bękęf bi kar tînin
Ű pętir ji sadebűn ű hesaniyę hez dikin.
Zorbirin ű serkeftin yekcar ne ţęrîn e.
Ew kesęn zorbirin ű serkeftin bi wan ţęrîn e
Ew bi xwe ne yęn bi kuţtinę dilxweţ dibin.
Ko tu bi kuţtinę kęfxweţ dibî
Tu nikarî baweriya xelkę bi xwe bînî.
Kirinęn rűmetdar ű hęja cihę
Qedirgirtina wan li çepę ye.
Kirinęn pîs ű ţűm cihę qedirgirtina wan
Li rastę ye.
Lutinantę komandar li çepę radiweste.
Serokę komandaran li
Rastę.
Ű ew diaxivin, terqînęn miriyan yęn payedar
Bo binaxkirina xelkę bi kar tînin.
Xelkęn sade ű hesan, ew ęn mirî tev
Ji wan in
Bi ţewatî dilorînin ű dinalin
Yęn serkeftî wan bi binaxkirineke
Payedar vediţęrin.

32. Shapes

32

The Way has no true shape,
And therefore none can control it.
If a ruler could control the Way
All things would follow
In harmony with his desire,
And sweet rain would fall,
Effortlessly slaking every thirst.
The Way is shaped by use,
But then the shape is lost.
Do not hold fast to shapes
But let sensation flow into the world
As a river courses down to the sea.

Tao tim bęnav e.
Ű heke xortik biçűk be jî
Ti kes nikare wî tęxe bin destę xwe.
Heke biręvebir bikaribin van pirinsîpan
Bi laţ bikin
Dę tiţtęn hezar ji ber xwe ve
Bi dű wan din.
Ezman ű erd dę tękevin lihevbűnekę
Pęrfękt
Ű wę xunaveke ţęrîn bibarînin.
Xelk, nikarin pę re li gor wę bidin ű bistînin
Guhertinan ű lihevanînan çedikin ;
Ű wisa destpęka perçebűna navan tę pę.
Ji lewre ji berę de pirr ű tęr nav hene
Divę tu bizanî li kű rawestî.
Nas bikî li kű bisekinî, tę zehmetiyan
Ű tirsę dűrî xwe bixî.
Tao di cîhanę de dijî
Mîna av ű kaniyęn newalę ye bi aliyę
Robar ű deryayan de diherike.

33. Virtues

33

Who understands the world is learned;
Who understands the self is enlightened.
Who conquers the world has strength;
Who conquers the self has harmony.
Who is determined has purpose;
Who is contented has wealth.
Who defends his home may long endure;
Who surrenders his home may long survive it.

Heke tu kesęn din fam bikî
Tu ţehreza yî.
Heke tu xwe fam bikî
Tu ronakbűyî yî.
Heke tu bi ser kesęn din bikevî
Tu bi hęz î.
Heke tu zora xwe bibî
Tu xurt î
Heke tu zanibî çawa razî bî
Tu dewlemend î.
Heke te bi liv ű germî kire, viyana
Te heye.
Heke tu armanc ű xwestekęn xwe winda
Nekî tę dűdiręj bimînî.
Heke tu bimirî bę windakirin, tu abadîn
Ű herheyî yî.

34. Control

34

The Way flows and ebbs, creating and destroying,
Implementing all the world, attending to the tiniest details,
Claiming nothing in return.
It nurtures all things,
Though it does not control them;
It has no intention,
So it seems inconsequential.
It is the substance of all things;
Though it does not control them;
It has no exception,
So it seems all-important.
The sage would not control the world;
He is in harmony with the world.

Tao mîna çemekî mezin î lehîhatî ye.
Çawa dę bi aliyę çepę an rastę de bę zîvirandin?
Hezaręn tiţtan pę dijîn bę hayę wan ję hebe.
Ew tiţtan pęrfękt dike ű kamil dike lę
Nayę gotin ko ew wan dijîne.
Hemű tiţtan bi kiras ű cil ű xwarin dike
Bę mîrîtiya wan bike.
Ew herdem będaxwaz e, wisa em nave wę dikin
`ya biçűk. ´
Tiţtęn hezar lę vedigerin ű dawa
Mîrîtiyę li wan nake
Ev navę wę`mezinahî.´ ye
Ta dawiyę, li xwe mîna ko ew mezin e
Nanere.
Ji lewre ew mezinahiya xwe bi cih tîne
Ű dibe serî.

35. Peace

35

If you offer music and food
Strangers may stop with you;
But if you accord with the Way
All the people of the world will keep you
In safety, health, community, and peace.
The Way lacks art and flavour;
It can neither be seen nor heard,
But its benefit cannot be exhausted.

Xwegirtina bi Awayę Mezin
Hemű tiţt diqedin ű dűr dirin.
Dűr dirin ű diqedin bę tade li wan bę,
di Aţtiya Mezin de bi cih dibin.
Ji bo xwarin ű műzîkę ye
Ko ręwiyęn derbasbűyî disekinin.
Dema Tao di pencereya xwe de
Xuya dibe
Ew wisa hűr e, ti tam ję re nîne.
Lę binere, nikarî wę bibînî.
Lę gudarî bike, dengę wę nayę te
Wę bi kar bîne
Tu nikarî wę biwestînî

36. Opposition

36

To reduce someone’s influence, first expand it;
To reduce someone’s force, first increase it;
To overthrow someone, first exalt them;
To take from someone, first give to them.
This is the subtlety by which the weak overcome the strong:
Fish should not leave their depths,
And swords should not leave their scabbards.

Tiţtę ko wę bę hev
Divę pęţî hatibe vezilandin.
Tiţtę wę bę lawaz kirin
Pęţî divę hatibe xurt kirin
Tiţtę wę bę hilweţandin ű xistin
Pęţî divę hatibe bilind kirin.
Tiţtę ko wę bę stendin
Divę pęţî hatibe dan.
Ev navę wę`ronahîkirina hűr.´e
Tiţtę cirxweţ ű nerm zora yę
Hiţk ű çavsor ű bęhnteng dibe
Masî nikare dev ji avę berde.
Çek ű silehęn welęt yęn dijwar
Nabe pęţ xelkęn wî bęn kirin.

37. Tranquillity

37

The Way takes no action, but leaves nothing undone.
When you accept this
The world will flourish,
In harmony with nature.
Nature does not possess desire;
Without desire, the heart becomes quiet;
In this manner the whole world is made tranquil.

Tao herdem `ne- kirine´
Bi ser ko tiţt niye ko ew nake.
Ko yę biręvebir bikaribe wę
Bi laţ bike ű bi cih bîne
Her tiţt dę bi awakî xwezayî
Bę guhertin.
Heke hatin guhertin, dę bivęn ko bikin.
Wisa divę ez wan girębidim, vî bęnavî
`qurmę perçak`(hiţę kokane) bi kar bînim
Bi riya bikaranîna vî bęnavî (qurmę perçak)
Dę ew bibin bę daxwaz.
Będaxwaz, wę bitebitin ű aram bin
Hertiţt- li bin- ezman bi ţęweyekî xwezayî
li cihę xwe ye.

38. Ritual

38

Well established hierarchies are not easily uprooted;
Closely held beliefs are not easily released;
So ritual enthralls generation after generation.
Harmony does not care for harmony, and so is naturally attained;
But ritual is intent upon harmony, and so can not attain it.
Harmony neither acts nor reasons;
Love acts, but without reason;
Justice acts to serve reason;
But ritual acts to enforce reason.
When the Way is lost, there remains harmony;
When harmony is lost, there remains love;
When love is lost, there remains justice;
But when justice is lost, there remains ritual.
Ritual is the end of compassion and honesty,
The beginning of confusion;
Belief is a colourful hope or fear,
The beginning of folly.
The sage goes by harmony, not by hope;
He dwells in the fruit, not the flower;
He accepts substance, and ignores abstraction.

Qenciya rast ne exlaqî ű moralî ye
Ji lewre bi nirx ű qîmet e.
Qenciya nekűr herdem xwe dike
Moral ű cilekî wę yę exlaqî heye
Ji lewre ti bihayę wę nîne.
Qenciya rast ‘nake’
Ű ti mebesta wę nîne.
Qenciya sade ű nekűr ‘dike’
Ű tim mebest ű qesda wę heye.
Jen a rast ‘dike’
Lę ti qesd ű mebest ję re nîne.
Jîrîtiya rast `dike´ ű heke tu bersivę nedî
Dę zendikęn gumlekęn xwe bikiţînin
Ű çavsoriyan li te bikin.
Ji lewre, dema Tao nemîne qencî
Heye
Dema qencî winda bibe jen heye
Dema jen nemîne dadmendî heye
Ű dema dadmendî nemîne adet
Ű jiberxwefedîkirin ű layiqî heye.
Aniha `layiqî` rűyę derve ye
Ji rastî ű dilsoziyę re
Ű destpęka tevlhevî ű nexweţiyę ye .
Loma hoste di bingehiyan de dijî
Ű ne di nekűriyan de
Di fękiyan de bęhna xwe derdixe
Ne di kulîlkan de

39. Support

39

In mythical times all things were whole:
All the sky was clear,
All the earth was stable,
All the mountains were firm,
All the riverbeds were full,
All of nature was fertile,
And all the rulers were supported.
But, losing clarity, the sky tore;
Losing stability, the earth split;
Losing strength, the mountains sank;
Losing water, the riverbeds cracked;
Losing fertility, nature disappeared;
And losing support, the rulers fell.
Rulers depend upon their subjects,
The noble depend upon the humble;
So rulers call themselves orphaned, hungry and alone,
To win the people’s support.

Van di dema berę de giţtîtî
Bi cih anîn:
Ezman giţtîtî bi zelaliya xwe
Bi cih anî;
Erdę giţtîtî bi xurtiya xwe bi
Cih anî;
Giyan giţtîtî bi bilindî ű nediyariya
Xwe bi cih anî;
Newalę giţtîtî wextę tije dibe
Bi cih anî;
Tiţtęn bi hezaran giţtîtî di jiyanę de
Bi cih anîn;
Serokan giţtîtî bi rastbűna biręvebirina
Xelkę bi cih anîn.
Bi kirina wisa:
Ko ezman bę zelalî be dę perçe bibe;
Heke erd xurtî lę kęm bikeve dę bi dűr de
Bifire;
Heke giyan bę nediyarî ű bilindî be
Dę biweste ű bibetile;
Heke newal bę tijeyî be
Dę kęm bibe ű nemîne;
Heke hezaręn tiţtan bę jiyan man
Dę nebedî bibin.
Heke yę serok bę ciwamęrî ű payeyî be
Dę bikeve.
Ji lewre
Malmezintî ű rűmet xwebiçűk ű xwenizimkirin
Reh ű kokęn wę ne
Bilindî nizmî bingeha wę ye.
Ji lewre qiral navęn xwe dikin`
Yęn sęwî, yęn nizim, yęn nehęja.`
Ma ev ne bikaranîna nizmiyę mîna
Bingeh ű kokę ye? Ma ne wisa ye?
Bi vę riyę tu dikarî bandor ű ţopa herî
Mezin ű baţ pęk bînî bę ti bargiranî.
Bę hęvîkirina cewheręn bęhempa ű bęmînak
An pirrbűna libęn qűmę.

40. Motion and Use

40

The motion of the Way is to return;
The use of the Way is to accept;
All things come from the Way,
And the Way comes from nothing.

Veger liva Tao e.
Nermkirin karę wę ye.
Her tiţt di gerdűnę de ji habűnę
Çędibe.
Hebűn ji ne-hebűnę çędibe.

41. Following

41

When the great man learns the Way, he follows it with diligence;
When the common man learns the Way, he follows it on occasion;
When the mean man learns the Way, he laughs out loud;
Those who do not laugh, do not learn at all.
Therefore it is said:
Who understands the Way seems foolish;
Who progresses on the Way seems to fail;
Who follows the Way seems to wander.
For the finest harmony appears plain;
The brightest truth appears coloured;
The richest character appears incomplete;
The bravest heart appears meek;
The simplest nature appears inconstant.
The square, perfected, has no corner;
Music, perfected, has no melody;
Love, perfected, has no climax;
Art, perfected, has no meaning.
The Way can be neither sensed nor known:
It transmits sensation and transcends knowledge.

Dema ţagirtęn hęja ű zanbilind bi Tao
Dibihîzin
Pirr xwe diwestînin da pę bikin ű bi kar bînin.
Dema ţagirtęn orte bi Toa
Dibihîzin
Carna pę digirin ű carn wę winda dikin.
Dema ţagirtęn nizim bi Tao dibihîzin
Hîr-hîra kenę wan e.
Lę pę ‘nekenîn’ bi xwe ne gelekî
Bes e da navę Tao lę bibe, ji lewre
Hatiye gotin:
Tao a birűskdar tarî dixuye
Pęţketina di Tao de mîna vegerę ye.
Man ű sekna di Tao de hiţk ű zehmet dixuye.
Qenciya rast mîna newalę ye.
Paqijî kęm dixuye.
Qenciyęn berfireh nebes dixuyin.
Qenciyęn kokxurt xapîner dixuyin.
Rűyę rastiyę dixuye ko tę guhertin.
Jęhatbűn ű karîbűna mezin pirr wext dixwe
Bo temam ű pęrfękt bibe.
Dengę mezin ű xurt zehmet e bę guhdarî kirin.
Awayę mezin bę ţęw ű awe ye.
Tao veţartî ye ű bęnav e.
Ji ber wisa bixwe ye ko Tao baţ e
Bo pęţxistinę ű pęrfęktkirinę.

42. Mind

42

The Way bears sensation,
Sensation bears memory,
Sensation and memory bear abstraction,
And abstraction bears all the world;
Each thing in the world bears feeling and doing,
And, imbued with mind, harmony with the Way.
As others have taught, so do I teach,
“Who loses harmony opposes nature”;
This is the root of my teaching.

Tao yekę çędike, yek didwan
Çędike.
Dido sisyan çędikin ű
Sisę hemű tiţtan çędikin.
Her tiţt bi ya yin dikin ű yang hemęz dikin.
Inerciya xwe nerm dikin da dűzan ű lihevhatinę
Ű harmoniyę bi cî bînin.
Merov hez nakin ko li xwe mîna
‘sęwiyan’, ‘nizman’, ‘bęnirxan’
binerin
li gel ko ţah ű qiral van navan li xwe dikin.
Hin winda dikin lę bi ser de fędę dikin
Hin din fędę dikin lę bi ser de winda dikin.
Ziţtę ko xelkę hîn kiriye
Ez jî hîn dikim:
´yę xurt ű hęzdar cihę xwe yę mirinę
nabijęre.`
Ez li vî tiţtî dinerim mîna ew
Bavę hemî hînkirinę be.

43. Overcoming

43

Water overcomes the stone;
Without substance it requires no opening;
This is the benefit of taking no action.
Yet benefit without action,
And experience without abstraction,
Are practiced by very few.

Tiţtę herî nerm di cîhanę de
Dę bi ser yę herî hiţk keve.
Tinne-bűn dikare derbas be cihę
Ko cih tę de nîne.
Ji lewre ez sűd ű fęda kirina negirędayî
Ű serbixwe
Dizanim.
Hînkirina bęgotin ű
Kirina serbixwe
Kęm tęn dîtin.

44. Contentment

44

Health or reputation: which is held dearer?
Health or possessions: which has more worth?
Profit or loss: which is more troublesome?
Great love incurs great expense,
And great riches incur great fear,
But contentment comes at no cost;
Who knows when to stop
Does not continue into danger,
And so may long endure.

Kîjan bihatir ű hęjatir e, nav ű deng an jiyîna te?
Kîjan mezintir e, jiyana te an
Hebűna sermiyan ű tiţtan?
Kîjan pirrtir bi ęţ e, bidestxistin an windakirin?
Ji lewre em herdem bihayeke mezin
Ji bo hezkirirna zęde didin
Ű bi windakirineke kűr dięţin ji bo
Danhevek ű komkirineke bęhawe.
Heger tu nas bikî ko tiţtek bes e, dę
derdę xizaniyę mekţînî.
Ko zanibî li kű rawestî, wę ti ziyan
Ű tade li te meyę.
Ű tę dűr-diręj bimînî.

45. Quiet

45

Great perfection seems incomplete,
But does not decay;
Great abundance seems empty,
But does not fail.
Great truth seems contradictory;
Great cleverness seems stupid;
Great eloquence seems awkward.
As spring overcomes the cold,
And autumn overcomes the heat,
So calm and quiet overcome the world.

Kemal ű pęrfęktbűna hęja kęm dixuye,
lę bę ţaţtî ű seqetî kar dike.
Tijebűna mezin ű hęja vala dixuye, lę
Bę west kar dike.
Rastbűna hęja xwar dixuye,
jîrbűna hęja qelafetgiran dixuye,
Zimanxweţbűna hęja lal dixuye.
Dilgermî zora sariyę dibe, hęmenî ű bęlivbűn
Zora germiyę.
Zelalbűn ű aramî ű tebat her tiţtî
Datînin cihę rast.

46. Horses

46

When a nation follows the Way,
Horses bear manure through its fields;
When a nation ignores the Way,
Horses bear soldiers through its streets.
There is no greater mistake than following desire;
There is no greater disaster than forgetting contentment;
There is no greater sickness than seeking attainment;
But one who is content to satisfy his needs
Finds that contentment endures.

Dema Tao li cihekî belav dibe
Hesp hędî-hędî diçęrin
Ű erdę sergo dikin.
Dema Tao li cihekî tinne be
Hespęn ţer ű cengę li dervî bajęr tęn
Xwedî kirin.
Bűbelat ű katastrofęn xwezayane,
ne
Pîs ű kiręttir in ji nezanebűna ko
Tiţtek bes e.
Windakirin ne kiręttir e ji daxwaza hîn pirrtirî.
Ji lewre qenciya ji naskirina ko tiţtek bes e
Dertę
Qenciyek sermedî ű będawî ye

47. Knowing

47

Without taking a step outdoors
You know the whole world;
Without taking a peep out the window
You know the colour of the sky.
The more you experience,
The less you know.
The sage wanders without knowing,
Sees without looking,
Accomplishes without acting.

Bę çűna dervî derî, naskirina
Her tiţtî,
Bę nerîna di pencerę re, dîtina
Riya ezman.
Çiqa dűr tu herî, wisa kęm
Tu nas dikî.
Hiţmendî di her tiţtî de digihęje
Bę ko di hemű prosęsę de here.
Ew bi nav ű deng e bę xwe diyar bike.
Ew pęrfękt e ű tekűz e bę
Hewildan ű westana pirr.

48. Inaction

48

The follower of knowledge learns as much as he can every day;
The follower of the Way forgets as much as he can every day.
By attrition he reaches a state of inaction
Wherein he does nothing, but nothing remains undone.
To conquer the world, accomplish nothing;
If you must accomplish something,
The world remains beyond conquest.

Bi xwendinę, her roj merov tiţtekî
Bi dest dixîne.
Bi kirina bi Tao, her roj
Tiţtek winda dibe.
Winda dibe ű dîsa winda dibe.
Ta tiţt nemîne ko bę kirin.
Ne-kirin, tiţtek nemaye ko nehatiye kirin.
Cîhan dikare ya te be bi yekcar neguhertin ű nelîstina
Pę.
Tu çiqasî pę bilîzî ű wę biguherî
Tu nikarî cîhane bikî ya xwe.

49. People

49

The sage does not distinguish between himself and the world;
The needs of other people are as his own.
He is good to those who are good;
He is also good to those who are not good,
Thereby he is good.
He trusts those who are trustworthy;
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy,
Thereby he is trustworthy.
The sage lives in harmony with the world,
And his mind is the world’s mind.
So he nurtures the worlds of others
As a mother does her children.

Hiţmendî hiţekî neguher ję re nîne,
Li hiţęn merovan dinere mîna ko
Ęn wę bin.
Ez bi yę baţ re mîna ko baţ e,
ű bi yę pîs re mîna ko ew jî baţ e didim ű distînim.
Ev baţiya rast e.
Ez baweriyę bi yę bawerî pę tę tînim, ű
Bi yę bawerî pę nayę jî.
Ev baweriya rast e.
Dema hiţmendî bi merovan re dijî,
xwe bi wan re didűzinîne
An zanebűn ű hiţę xwe ji wan vediţęre.
Hîţmendî bi wan re dide ű distîne mîna
zarokęn xwe.

50. Death

50

Men flow into life, and ebb into death.
Some are filled with life;
Some are empty with death;
Some hold fast to life, and thereby perish,
For life is an abstraction.
Those who are filled with life
Need not fear tigers and rhinos in the wilds,
Nor wear armour and shields in battle;
The rhinoceros finds no place in them for its horn,
The tiger no place for its claw,
The soldier no place for a weapon,
For death finds no place in them.

Hatina jiyanę ű derbasbűna mirinę
Peyęn jiyanę sisę di dehan de ne.
Peyęn mirinę sisę di dehan de ne.
Ew ęn liva jiyanę erda mirina wan e
Sisę di dehan de ne.
Çima ev wisa ye?
Ji lewre ew jiyanę dijîn ű destan li
Xweţbűna wę ya dewlemend digirin.
Aniha min bihîstiye ko ew ę di danűstendina bi jiyanę re
Pispor e
Dikare ręwîtiyę di welat de bike bę ko
Liqayî piling ű kerkedenan bibe,
dikare tękeve ţeran ű pevçűnan bę birîn bibe.
Kerkeden ti cihî nabîne ko qiloçę
Xwe tę de biçikilîne,
Piling ti cihî nabîne bo bi lepűţkęn xwe
Biçirîne,
Çek ű sileh ti cihî nabînin ko pęţwaziya
Seręn wan ęn tűj bike.
Çima?
Ji lewre ew ti erd- mirin ję re nîne.