the short of it:
The Universe takes to give, and gives to take.
77. The Tau of Heaven*.
The Tau of Heaven may be compared to the extending of a bow. It brings down the high, and exalts the low. It takes from those who have over-much, and gives to those who have not enough. The Tau of Heaven takes away where there is too much, and makes up where there is deficiency. Not so the Tau of [people]. [People take] from those who have not enough, to serve those who have too much. Who is the [person] that, having an overplus, can serve the world with it? It is only [those] who [have] Tau.
This is the reason why the sage acts and expects nothing; completes [their] meritorious work and holds no place. [They do] not wish to show [their] worth.
*see Chapter 68 on the Chinese logogram for heaven.
77. ‘The Way of Heaven*.’
77.1 May not the Way (or Tao) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow? The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low; and what was low is raised up. (So Heaven) diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.
77.2 It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of [people]. [They take] away from those who have not enough to add to [their] own superabundance.
77.3 Who can take [their] own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only [those] who [are] in possession of the Tao!
77.4 Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as [theirs]; [they achieve their] merit and [do] not rest (arrogantly) in it: -[they do] not wish to display [their] superiority.
*see Chapter 68 on the Chinese logogram for heaven.
Laozi, James Legge.The Sacred Books of China: The Texts of Tâoism. United Kingdom: Clarendon, 1891.
77. Heaven’s* Reason.
77.1 Is not Heaven’s Reason truly like stretching a bow? The high it brings down, the lowly it lifts up. Those who have abundance it depleteth; those who are deficient it augmenteth.
77.2 Such is Heaven’s Reason. It depleteth those who have abundance but completeth the deficient.
77.3 [Humanity’s] Reason is not so. [They] depleteth the deficient in order to serve those who have abundance.
77.4 Where [are those] who would have abundance for serving the world?
77.5 Indeed, it is the holy [person] who acts but claims not; merit [they acquire] but [they do] no dwell upon it, and [do they] ever show any anxiety to display [their] excellence?
*see Chapter 68 on the Chinese logogram for heaven.
The long of it:
Most people take and do not give back. Knowing this, the sage acts but does not expect. They give but do not take.
-TB
