老子《道德經(jīng)》英譯第三十章

　　【原文】

　　以道佐人主者，不以兵強(qiáng)天下，其事好還。師之所處，荊棘生焉。大軍之后，必有兇年。

　　善有果而已，不敢以取強(qiáng)。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕，果而不得已，果而勿強(qiáng)。

　　物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。

　　【現(xiàn)代漢語(yǔ)】

　　以’道’規(guī)律來(lái)輔助君王的人，不會(huì)依靠武力逞強(qiáng)于天下。發(fā)動(dòng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)是一定會(huì)得到遠(yuǎn)報(bào)的。軍隊(duì)所到之處，就會(huì)變得荊棘叢生。大戰(zhàn)過(guò)后，荒年會(huì)接踵而至。

　　善用兵的人只求達(dá)到救濟(jì)危難的目的而已，不會(huì)濫用兵力。達(dá)到目的而不有恃無(wú)恐;達(dá)到目的卻不夸耀;達(dá)到目的卻不驕傲;用武力達(dá)到目的是出于迫不得已;達(dá)到目的卻不逞強(qiáng)。

　　氣勢(shì)太過(guò)強(qiáng)盛就會(huì)趨于衰微，這是道的規(guī)律，不依照道的規(guī)律行事就會(huì)加速消亡。

　　【英譯】

　　The man who assists emperor with the principle of Tao’s will not conquer the world by force of arms. Such warring is sure to meet with its proper future return. Where armies are, thorns and brambles grow. Lean years always follow the war.

　　Therefore a good captain who acts accord with the standard of Tao’s just fights for relieving jeopardy. He will not use all armed might to indulge in aggressive wars. He will not be swashbuckling, pretentious, cocky and conceited after he gains his ends by force. It’s just be forced to fight.

　　When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This is the rule of the Tao’s. What is not in accordance with Tao soon comes to an end.