Chapter L
(Chapter 50)

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Ko Yuen Translation

The Estimation of Life
1. Man cometh into life, and returneth again into death.
2. Three men in ten conserve life; three men in ten pursue death.
3. Three men also in ten desire to live, but their acts hasten their journey to the house of death.  Why is this?  Because of their efforts to preserve life.
4. But this I have heard.  He that is wise in the economy of his life, whereof he is warden for a season, journeyeth with no need to avoid the tiger or the rhinoceros, and goeth uncorsleted among the warriors with no fear of sword or lance.  The rhinoceros findeth in him no place vulnerable to its horn, the tiger to its claws, the weapon to its point.  Why is this?  Because there is no house of death in his whole body.

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S. Mitchell Translation
The Master gives himself up
to whatever the moment brings.
He knows that he is going to die,
and her has nothing left to hold on to:
no illusions in his mind,
no resistances in his body.
He doesn't think about his actions;
they flow from the core of his being.
He holds nothing back from life;
therefore he is ready for death,
as a man is ready for sleep
after a good day's work.

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James Legge Translation
1. Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die.
2. Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death.
3. There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death.  And for what reason?  Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.
4. But I have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon.  The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point.  And for what reason?  Because there is in him no place of death.

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GNL not Lao Interpolation

Death
Men flow into life, and ebb into death.

Some are filled with life;
Some are empty with death;
Some hold fast to life, and thereby perish,
For life is an abstraction.

Those who are filled with life
Need not fear tigers and rhinos in the wilds,
Nor wear armour and shields in battle;
The rhinoceros finds no place in them for its horn,
The tiger no place for its claw,
The soldier no place for a weapon,
For death finds no place in them.

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