The people are only poor,
Because they’ve been pillaged by the powerful.
The meek are only a mess,
Because they’ve been meddled with by their masters.
The ordinary only obsess about an afterlife,
Because their lives have been impaired by the powerful.
Thus, those who expect too much from the world
Are the enemies of life,
While those who leave the world alone,
Are its allies and associates.
You may order or download The Tao Te Ching here.
List of verses here