[Note: I italicize phrases I borrow from the chapter, and link to phrases I borrow from other chapters to help tie chapters together. While making it more tedious to read, the Tao Te Ching is best pondered in the context of the whole.]

Oh my how succinctly this chapter strikes at the root of the problems which civilization is eternally seeking to resolve. Of course, we never will because we love the root causes too much to let go. This is like cake and cavities. Though 'cake' causes our teeth to decays, we can't quit eating 'cake'. Dentistry give us a by-path around that problem. And I'm sure science will soon give us a by-path around obesity, the other consequence of eating 'cake'. Alas, it is different for the three issues raised here.

Indeed, we see these three as 'solutions' to our problems, not as causes, or symptoms of deeper causes. So, round and round we'll go... until hell freezes over I expect. Thus, the only thing I can truly do is exhibit the unadorned and embrace the uncarved block, have little thought of self and as few desires as possible. Only when I'm too 'lazy' or 'driven', do I take a partisan by-path instead of returning to my roots. I lose impartiality and see the 'solution' to the 'problem' as being out there somewhere in someone or something else.

The literal – the best I can do for now:
extinct sage discard wisdom, people advantage 100 fold;
extinct benevolence discard justice (relationships, artificial), people again mourning kind;
extinct clever (artful, deceitful) discard advantage, thieves nothing have;
this three, consider (think, believe) culture ( language, civil) not enough.
hence cause have what is under your control, see plain (quiet, simple, native) embrace simple (plain)
little personal (secret) few desires (longing; wish; want)

Rearrange with some poetic license -- the best I can do for now:
When the sage and wisdom are nonexistent, the people benefit greatly;
When benevolence and justice are nonexistent, the people return to feeling mourning kindness;
When cleverness and advantage are nonexistent, thieves have nothing to rob;
When considering human culture, these three are not enough.
Hence, see the simple, embrace the plain, and have few personal desires.

Two things stand out a little differently in the literal than the usual translations tend to convey. (1) Benevolence and justice are our attempt 'fix' the innate mournful nature of life (i.e., the First Noble Truth is Suffering). I've notice that by letting go of benevolence and justice I am actually much more kind and compassionate. Now, benevolence and kindness may seem synonymous, and perhaps they are. It is the mourning undercurrent here that makes this kindness different. (2) These three 'causes' of our problem are so integral to human civilization, that there is no chance they will become nonexistent. Thus, all we can truly do is do Nothing as well as possible until we do nothing at all! Ha! Now we know why we alone are different from others.