This is our first major divergence between versions. Chapter 22 of the alternative matches with Chapter 24 of the more “standard” edition. There are also some ordering changes and simplifications between the versions.
炊者不立 自視不彰
[chui1] [zhe3] [bu4] [li4] [zi4] [shi4] [bu4] [zhang1]
One who stands up [high] [or] steps out [wide] does not stand up [straight], one who proclaims their own enlightenment does not manifest [their own enlightenment]
企者不立﹔跨者不行﹔
[qi3] [zhe3] [bu4] [li4]﹔ [kua4] [zhe3] [bu4] [xing2]﹔
One who stands up [high] does not stand up [straight], one who steps out [wide] does not travel
By reaching above what is natural, one strains themselves and loses their stability. By stepping wider than is normal, one stretches themselves to where they cannot stand or move. Overreaching and pushing too far is as bad as not trying at all. One must work within the natural way of the Dao.
見 – 康熙字典 1134 -【博雅】明也。【易·履卦】視履考祥。
自見者不明 自伐者无功 自矜者不長
[zi4] [jian4] [zhe3] [bu4] [ming2] [zi4] [fa2] [zhe3] [wu2] [gong1] [zi4] [jin1] [zhe3] [bu4] [zhang3]
One who makes their own appearance is not enlightened, one who boasts their own merit is not accomplished, one proud of themselves does not survive
自見者不明﹔自是者不彰﹔自伐者無功﹔自矜者不長。
[zi4] [jian4] [zhe3] [bu4] [ming2]﹔ [zi4] [shi4] [zhe3] [bu4] [zhang1]﹔ [zi4] [fa2] [zhe3] [wu2] [gong1]﹔ [zi4] [jin1] [zhe3] [bu4] [zhang3]。
One who makes their own appearance is not enlightened, one who proclaims their own correctness does not manifest [their own correctness], one who boasts their own merit is not accomplished, one proud of themselves does not survive
A lot of these phrases are very similar. There is a subtle difference between each, but ultimately, if you boast and brag about your accomplishments, you probably aren’t as accomplished as you think you are. Humble yourself before the might of nature, bend to the way of the Dao. Let your actions be natural and let them speak for you. The next section drives this point home.
見 – 康熙字典 1133 – 【廣韻】露也。【易·乾卦】見龍在田。
其在道也 曰餘食贅行
[qi2] [zai4] [dao4] [ye3] [yue1] [yu2] [shi2] [zhui4] [xing2]
They who are in the Dao, [would] say: [This is] leftover food and superfluous behavior,
其在道也，曰：餘食贅形。
[qi2] [zai4] [dao4] [ye3]， [yue1]： [yu2] [shi2] [zhui4] [xing2]。
They who are in the Dao, [would] say: [This is] leftover food and superfluous behavior,
Those who act in the Dao see this as a waste. The part about leftover food can be understood as putting too much on your plate and having some left at the end. You have created waste for no reason.
物或惡之 故有欲者弗居
[wu4] [huo4] [wu4] [zhi1] [gu4] [you3] [yu4] [zhe3] [fu2] [ju1]
Things [every thing] hate them no matter what, thus, those with hope do not live [by them]
物或惡之，故有道者不處。
[wu4] [huo4] [wu4] [zhi1]， [gu4] [you3] [dao4] [zhe3] [bu4] [chu3]。
Things [every thing] hate them no matter what, those, those with the Dao [who follow the Dao] do not deal with [them]
These actions cause even nature to turn against them. They are out of sync with the Dao and those who act with the Dao do not want to deal with them. This sort of conduct causes the whole world to seemingly turn on them. The message is clear, conform to the Dao or be cast aside by the universe itself.