39.

Since ancient days, these attained oneness:

heaven attained unity and grew clear;

earth attained unity and grew tranquil;

souls attained unity and grew powerful;

valleys attained unity and produced abundance;

all beings became one and gave life;

rulers attained oneness and rule grew virtuous.

If heaven were not clear,

it would crumble;

earth without tranquility

would shatter.

Souls without power

would soon dissipate.

Valleys without abundance

are quickly exhausted.

Rulers without esteem

can be toppled.

Thus the noble is rooted in the humble,

the high founded upon the low.

Rulers call themselves orphans, widowers, destitute.

Isn’t humility at the root?

Hence they count many carriages

while disdaining their prestige.

Not wanting to tinkle and chime like jade,

they clatter, falling like stones.

Tung (“Motion”): This character also means “to start,” “to excite,” “to move,” or “to rouse”—“to take action.”