Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 79
Chapter 79 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
和大怨，必有餘怨；安可以為善？是以聖人執左契，而不責於人。有德司契，無德司徹。天道無親，常與善人。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
Reconcile a great grievance, and some grievance is sure to remain;How can this be called good?Thus the sage holds the left half of the tally but makes no demand upon others.One with Virtue attends to the tally; one without Virtue attends to collection.The Way of Heaven has no favorites; it always stands with the good.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
Reconcile a deep grievance, and resentment is bound to remain;how could that count as a good outcome?So the sage holds the left half of the tally, but makes no demand on the other party.A person of integrity keeps the tally; one without integrity enforces the levy.The way of heaven favors no kin; it always sides with those who are good.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. When a reconciliation is effected (between two parties) after a great animosity, there is sure to be a grudge remaining (in the mind of the one who was wrong). And how can this be beneficial (to the other)?
2. Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement, and does not insist on the (speedy) fulfilment of it by the other party. (So), he who has the attributes (of the Tao) regards (only) the conditions of the engagement, while he who has not those attributes regards only the conditions favourable to himself.
3. In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good man.