Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 bend the bow and embrace the tiger to emulate the way of heaven
2 drawn with resoluteness
the bow changes length and width turning in on itself
3 released with resoluteness
the bow projects its arrow fixedly to a target by equalizing itself
4 the bow can shoot up or down as needed always seeking to balance out flexibility and cohesion always seeking to resolve
excesses of energy and deficiencies of energy
5 equalizing and balancing out and resolving are the ways of heaven
6 but the ways of man make things unequal
imbalanced and unresolved
cutting man off from heaven and earth
7 only a sage wise man humbly cultivating the tao way of life
can entreat heaven on man's behalf asking heaven
to reestablish the natural order by not asking heaven
8 when he is successful he does not dwell on it
displaying his skill at emulating the way of heaven
9 he simply smiles
and moves on to the next task
1-4 HEART and BODY: These stanzas ask you to emulate the qualities of a bow and to do so with the tenacity of a tiger. The description of the drawing a bow and releasing an arrow form a complete formula for living the Tao Way of Life.
5 HEART The Taoist emulates the way of Heaven by bringing balance and resolution to his life and the life around him.
6 BODY: Non-Cultivators who do not intrinsically understand the Tao Way of Life invariably bring imbalance to all that they think and do. Eventually, the momentum of this imbalance grows until it negatively infects anyone that is around them. Over time, this negative momentum radiates outward to infect not only their family, but also their city, state, and beyond.
7 BODY: The Taoist Cultivator can intercede and help reestablish the natural order. They accomplish this by their own example and the actual practice of Taoist cultivation.
8-9 BODY: The Cultivator is humble, reserved, and understated. When he is able to reestablish the natural order, he relaxes deeply, blesses the world around him, and quietly moves on to where he is needed. Much Chinese folklore centers on the wandering Taoist Mystic who brings his skills and sensitivities to those he meets during his journeys.