16
Attain utmost emptiness.
Maintain utter stillness.
All things arise,
and I observe their return.
All creatures under heaven flourish,
yet each returns to its roots.
This is stillness.
Stillness means returning to destiny.
Returning to destiny is constancy.
Not to know constancy is to be reckless.
Being reckless brings disaster.
Knowing constancy is to be accepting.
Acceptance is being impartial.
Being impartial leads to power.
Power leads to heaven.
Heaven leads to the way.
The way is permanence,
without peril to the end of days.