As it acts in the world, the Tao
is like the bending of a bow.
The top is bent downward;
the bottom is bent up.
It adjusts excess and deficiency
so that there is perfect balance.
It takes from what is too much
and give to what isn't enough.

Those who try to control,
who use force to protect their power,
go against the direction of the Tao.
They take from those who don't have enough
and give to those who have far too much.

The Master can keep giving
because there is no end to her wealth.
She acts without expectation,
succeeds without taking credit,
and doesn't think that she is better
than anyone else.

^---

The Tao of Heaven works in the world
like the drawing of a bow.
The top is bent downward;
the bottom is bent up.
The excess is taken from,
and the deficient is given to. [*]

The Tao works to use the excess,
and gives to that which is depleted.
The way of people is to take from the depleted,
and give to those who already have an excess.

Who is able to give to the needy from their excess?
Only someone who is following the way of the Tao.

This is why the Master gives
expecting nothing in return.
She does not dwell on her past accomplishments,
and does not glory in any praise.

^{---
[*] HO-SHANG-KUNG [an ancient commentator] says:
"It is the way of heaven to diminish what has
a surplus and to replete what is deficient.
It always thinks adjustment to be superior."}

Is not the way of Heaven
like the stretching of a bow?

The high it brings down
the low it lifts up;
It takes from what is in excess,
in order to make good of what is deficient.

The way of heaven
reduces what is in excess,
in order to give
to what is deficient.

The Tao of the people is not so.

They reduce further those that are lacking,
and offer more to those who already have.

Who can offer to others what they have
in excess?      

Only those who have the Tao.

Therefore the sage benefits but seek
no gratitude,      
gives but without taking credit:
they do not wish to display their virtue
and still their virtue shines forth.

^---

The Tao of Heaven is like the stringing
      of a bow.
The high is pressed down and the low
      is raised up.
The string that is too long is shortened
and the string that is too short is added to.
Heaven's Way is to take from what has
      too much
And give it to what does not have enough.
This is not the way of men, however,
For they take from those who have little
To increase the wealth of the rich.
So who is it that has too much
and offers it to a needy World?
Only someone who knows the Tao.
Therefore, the Sage works anonymously.
She achieves great things
But does not wait around for praise.
She does not want her talents to attract
      attention to her.

^---

The way of the Great Integrity
is like stringing a bow,
pulling down the high
lifting up the low —

Strengthening the long,
lengthening the short
to take from the excessive
and give insufficiency support.

How opposite to our social norms
which increasingly impoverish the poor
to further enrich the rich
who do not need any more.

How can we gather the world's wealth
to increase the abundance for all in need?
Through rediscovering the Great Integrity,
by acting without praising the deed.

^---

      T'ien
      Chih tao.
      Heaven's TAO
      Is a stretched bow;
      Pulling down the top,
      Pulling up the bottom.
      If it's too much, cut.
      If it's not enough,
      Add on to it:
      Heaven's
      TAO.

The Human Route
Is not like this,
Depriving the poor,
Offering to the rich.

Who has a surplus
And still offers it to the world?
Only those with Tao.

Therefore the Sage
Acts and expects nothing,
Accomplishes and does not linger,
Has no desire to seem worthy.

^---

BOW (弓 = Gong) Pictograph of a Bow "The Tao of Heaven is like the bending of a bow."

Tao Te Ching: Chapter 77
translated by Holly Roberts (2005)

The Tao of Heaven is like the bending of a bow,
It brings down the highest
and raises up the lowest.
It takes from that with abundance,
and replenishes that which is deficient.

The Tao of Heaven takes from those with excess
and gives to those with needs.
The way of humans is not so.
Humans take from those who have less
and give to those who have more.

(1) Heaven (2) the same's (3) way (4) diminishes (5) what has (6) excess (7) and (8) adds to (9) what is not (10) enough (11) people (12) the same's (13) way (14) is consequently (15) not (16) like so (17) diminishing (18) what is not (19) enough (20) so as to (21) add to (22) what has (23) excess

Who can offer that world a better way?
One with understanding of the Tao.
One with such understanding
acts, yet seeks no credit;
accomplishes, yet seeks no glory.

^---

The way of tian is like archers drawing their bows.
To hit something high in the air, they pull the string downward;
To hit something lower, they pull the string upward.
When they have drawn the string too far back, they let some go,
And when they have not drawn it far enough, they pull harder.

The way of tian is also to let some go where there is excess
And to augment where there is not enough.

The way of human beings on the other hand is not like this at all.
It is instead to take away from those who do not have enough
In order to give more to those who already have too much.

Who then in having too much is able to draw on this excess to make an
offering to the world?
Perhaps only those who are way-making (dao).

(1) who (2) is able (3) to have (4) an abundance (5) thus to (6) offer it (7) to heaven (8) below (9) only (10) having (11) the way (12) they are

It is thus that sages act on behalf of things but do not make any claim on them,
They see things through to fruition but do not take credit for them.

(1) yes (2) accordingly (3) sagely (4) people (5) act (6) but (7) not with (8) attachment (9) work (10) to completion (11) but (12) do not (13) reside

It is in such a way that they refrain from making a display of their worth.

^---