和大怨，必有余怨；报怨以德，安可以为善？是以圣人执左契，而不责于人。有德司契，无德司彻。天道无亲，常与善人。
When peace is made between great enemies,
Some enmity is bound to remain undispelled.
How can this be considered perfect?
Therefore the sage takes the left-hand tally, but exacts no paymentfrom the people.
The man of virtue takes charge of the tally;
The man of no virtue takes charge of exaction.
It is the way of heaven to show no favoritism.
It is for ever on the side of the good man.
(To requite injuries with good deeds.)
To allay the main discontent, but only in a manner that will certainly produce further discontents can hardly be called successful.
Therefore the Sage behaves like the holder of the left-hand tally, who stays where he is and does not go round making claims on people.
For he who has the “power” of Tao is the Grand Almoner; he who has not the “power” is the Grand Perquisitor. “It is Heaven's way, without distinction of persons, to keep the good perpetually supplied.”
When a reconciliation is effected (between two parties) after a great animosity, there is sure to be a grudge remaining (in the mind of the one who was wrong). And how can this be beneficial (to the other)? Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement, and does not insist on the (speedy) fulfilment of it by the other party. (So), he who has the attributes (of the Dao) regards (only) the conditions of the engagement, while he who has not those attributes regards only the conditions favourable to himself. In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good man.