The ways that can be walked are not the eternal Way;

能走的道不是永恒的道；

The names that can be names are not the eternal names.

能成为名字的名字不是永恒的名字。

The nameless is the origin of the myriad creatures;

无名字是万物的起源；

The named is the mother of myriad creatures.

有名字的是万物之母。

Therefore,

因此，

Always be without desire

始终不要有欲望

in order to observe its wondrous subtleties;

以观察其奇妙的细微之处;

Always have desire

始终存有欲望

so that you may observe manifestations.

方可观察其（外在）表现。

Both of these derive from the same source;

此两者派生于同一来源;

They have different names but the same designation.

他们有不同的名称、但有相同的称谓。

Mystery of mysteries,

奥秘中的神秘，

The game of all wonders!

所有奇迹的游戏（规则）！

The tao that can be told

能告诉的道

is not the eternal Tao.

不是永恒的道。

The name that can be named

能叫上名的名

is not the eternal Name.

不是永恒的名。

The unnamable is the eternally real.

难以起名的是永恒的真实。

Naming is the origin

起名是所有

of all particular things.

特定事物的根源。

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.

没有欲望，可以实现神秘。

Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

陷入欲望，只能见其表象。

Yet mystery and manifestations

然而神秘与表象

arise from the same source.

来自同一根源。

This source is called darkness.

这个根源叫做黑暗。

Darkness within darkness.

黑暗之中更有黑暗。

The gateway to all understanding.

通向所有理解的门道。