Line by Line - Verse 29, Line 6

he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

If you try to hold it, you will lose it.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The one who grasps it will lose
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Those who try to possess it lose it.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

Ever tried holding water with your bare hands? If you try to grasp it, it leaks out between your fingers. Even if you form your hand in the shape of a bowl, it won't be long before the water is gone.

The same is true for life itself. No matter what we do or how we do it, our life eventually will come to its end. People who spend their all time guarding against death at every turn end up missing out on a great deal of what their life has to offer. In a manner of speaking, but being so preoccupied with the specter of death, they die a little more each day.

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