lupa pi nasa pona ale
lipu Nasin — kasi nanpa 1
jan li ken nasin e nasin. nasin ni li sama ala e nasin lon. jan li ken nimi e nimi. nimi ni li sama ala e nimi lon. ona pi nimi ala li tan e sewi li tan e ma. nimi li mama e ijo ale. jan pi wile ala li lukin e nasa wawa. jan pi wile ale li lukin e ilo lon.
tu ni la ona li pana wan. taso la nimi ona li sama ala.
sama ni li seme? weka sona li sama ni.
ni li open e nasa wawa mute!
| 道可道 | nasin la, jan li ken nasin. taso la, ni li lon ala e nasin sewi. | The Way that can be followed is not the eternal Way. |
| 名可名 | nimi la, jan li ken nimi. taso la, ni li lon ala e nimi sewi. | The name that can be named is not the eternal name. |
| 无名 | ona pi jo ala e nimi la: sewi en ma li tan ni. | The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth |
| 有名 | ona pi jo nimi la: ijo ale li tan ni. | While naming is the origin of the myriad things. |
| 故常无欲 | jan pi wile ala li lukin e wawa nasa. | Therefore, always desireless, you see the mystery |
| 常有欲 | jan pi wile ale li lukin e ijo lon. | Ever desiring, you see the manifestations. |
| 此两者 | tu ni la, | These two are the same— |
| 同出而异名 | ona li tan wan. taso, nimi ona li sama ala. | When they appear they are named differently. |
| 同谓之玄 | sama ni li seme. | This sameness is the mystery, |
| 玄之又玄 | weka sona li sama ni. | Mystery within mystery; |
| 众妙之门 | ni li open e nasa wawa mute. | The door to all marvels. |