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Translation
The Tao extends everywhere; it can go to the left as well as to the right.
All beings depend on it to be born, and it never rejects them.
When its merits are accomplished, it does not claim them.
It loves and nourishes all beings, and does not consider itself their master.
It is constantly without desires: one can call it small.
All beings submit to it, and it does not consider itself their master: one can call it great.
From this comes that, until the end of his life, the Sage does not consider himself great.
This is why he can accomplish great things.
Notes
The word 汜 (literally, 'to float') means here that the Tao flows (extends) everywhere without being stopped by any obstacle. Commentator C also took the word 汜 in the sense of 泛滥 'to flood'. The Tao overflows everywhere; there is no place it does not reach. B: It flows everywhere, in heaven and earth and in the bosom of the ten thousand beings; it is on the right, it is on the left; it has no definite body or name.
This expression means that nothing is impossible for it.
Whenever creatures begin to be born, they necessarily need the assistance of the Tao to reach life. The Tao provides them with everything they ask of it and never rejects them.
When creatures are born and formed, it is to the Tao that belongs the merit of having produced and nourished them.
When finally they have reached their full development, the Tao does not cling to the merit that follows from it, and does not regard them as its property (literally, 'does not name them its having').
At the beginning, it gave them life, and at the end it leads them to their full development; one can say it loves and nourishes in the most perfect way all beings of the universe. However, although it fills beings with its benefits, it never considers itself their master. In general, when a man has devoted himself to work, he does not fail to tire. Who could, like the Tao, suffice completely to the work required for the production of beings, and refuse to none of them the assistance they need?
When a man has acquired merit, he does not fail to cling to it (and to make it his glory). Who could, like the Tao, reach the pinnacle of merit and regard it as if it were foreign to him?
If someone himself nourishes a child, he necessarily becomes its master. Who could, like the Tao, carry to the supreme degree the virtue that makes one love and nourish beings, and not regard them as its particular property? It is through this that the Tao is great.
The Tao conceals its virtue and hides its name. It is constantly inactive; it seems extremely small and subtle. The Tao is calm and without desires; it exists and appears as if it did not exist; it is full and appears empty. One can almost call it small.
When all beings have submitted to the Tao, at the end it detaches itself from them as if they were foreign to it. One can call it great.
The heart of the Sage resembles the Tao. Although his virtue is extremely great, he never considers himself great. It is through this that he is great.
