Chapter 7

天長地久。
天地所以能長且久者，以其不自生，故能長久。
是以聖人後其身而身先，外其身而身存。
非以其無私邪？
故能成其私。

Heaven lasts, earth endures.
Heaven and earth can last and endure because they do not live for themselves; so they can last long.
That is why the sage puts himself last and finds himself first, sets himself aside and finds himself preserved.
Is it not because he has no self to serve?
So his self is served.