一孔录The video for this chapter is still in production. For now this page gives the original text, the facsimile page, a working translation and the commentary; the full reading follows when the video is out.
上善若水。水善利萬物而不爭，處衆人之所惡，故幾於道。居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，動善時。夫唯不爭，故無尤。The highest good is like water. Water benefits the ten thousand things and does not contend; it stays in the places people dislike, and so it is close to the Way. In dwelling, good is the ground; in the heart, good is depth; in giving, good is kindness; in speech, good is trust; in governing, good is order; in affairs, good is ability; in action, good is timing. Because it does not contend, it incurs no blame.
What this chapter says
一孔按：水往人人都嫌的低处去，给了好处也不争功，于是没人跟它争，也没人怨它。常有人问“上善若水，往低处去算什么好”，上面是一孔录的回答。
Yikonglu's reading of this chapter is in Chinese for now; the English version comes with the video.
白Plain Chinese
最高的善像水。水善于滋养万物而不和谁争，安处在众人都厌恶的低处，所以接近于道。居处善于选低处，心思善于深沉，与人交往善于仁爱，说话善于守信，为政善于治理，做事善于发挥所能，行动善于把握时机。正因为不争，所以没有过失。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
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