《道德经》英译（第七十四章）

民不畏死，

奈何以死惧之。

若使民常畏死，

而为奇者，

吾得执而杀之，

孰敢？

常有司杀者杀。

夫代司杀者杀，

是谓代大匠斫，

希有不伤其手者矣。

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Chapter 74

If the people never fear death,

what is the purpose of threatening to kill them?

If the people ever fear death,

and I were to capture and kill those who are devious,

who would dare to be so?

If the people must be ever fearful of death,

then there will always be an executioner.

Now,

To kill in place of the executioner

Is like

Hewing wood in place of the master carpenter;

Few indeed will escape cutting their own hands!

（Victor H. Mair 译）

Chapter 74

If men are not afraid to die, It is of no avail to threaten them with death.

If men live in constant fear of dying, And if breaking the law means that a man will be killed, Who will dare to break the law?

There is always an official executioner.

If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood.

If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

（Jane English & Gia-Fu Feng 译）

Chapter 74

When the people live in a situation that they wish to die instead of to survive, they will not be afraid of threat!

The ruler should teach the people to love their lives and not to do evils which will be punished to death.

If the bad people do evil, and later they are punished to death, who else dares do evil again?

To kill evildoers is the responsibility of just officials.

If a person wants to do the job a just official does, it is like trying to cut wood for a master carpenter.

When you are wood-cutting for a professional carpenter, naturally, you will hurt your fingers.

（马德五 译）