The Sage does not need to interfere in what happens, because interference leads to injury. The text uses a contrast based on cutting wood, where the job should be left to the master craftsman and not undertaken by a novice carpenter.
When the people are always not in awe of death,
then how could you frighten them with death?
When the people are always in awe of death,
and I were able to arrest and slay the unorthodox, then,
who would dare?
When the people are always certainly in awe of death,
then they always have an executioner.
To deputize for the executioner is to deputize and cut wood for
the master craftsman.
Now of those who deputize and cut wood for the master craftsman,
few are they who do not hurt their hands.