天下有道，却走马以粪，天下无道，戎马生于郊。祸莫大于不知足；咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足，常足矣。
When the way prevails in the empire, fleet-footed horses are relegatedto ploughing in the fields;
When the way does not prevail in the empire, war-horses breed on theborder.
There is no crime greater than having too many desires;
There is no disaster greater than not being content;
There is no misfortune greater than being covetous.
Hence in being content, one will always have enough.
When there is Tao in the empire
The galloping steeds are turned back to fertilize the ground by their droppings.
When there is not Tao in the empire
War horses will be reared even on the sacred mounds below the city walls.
(No lure is greater than to possess what others want,)
No disaster greater than not to be content with what one has,
No presage of evil greater than men should be wanting to get more.
Truly: “He who has once known the contentment that comes simply through being content, will never again be otherwise than contented”.
When the Dao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung- carts. When the Dao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands. There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.