Chapter 30

以道佐人主者

Chapter Translation

以yǐ道dào佐zuǒ人rén主zhǔ者zhě，

不bù以yǐ兵bīng强qiáng天tiān下xià。

其qí事shì好hǎo还huán。

师shī之zhī所suǒ处chǔ，

荆jīng棘jí生shēng焉yān。

大dà军jūn之zhī后hòu，

必bì有yǒu凶xiōng年nián。

善shàn者zhě果guǒ而ér已yǐ，

不bù敢gǎn以yǐ取qǔ强qiáng。

果guǒ而ér勿wù矜jīn，

果guǒ而ér勿wù伐fá，

果guǒ而ér勿wù骄jiāo。

果guǒ而ér不bù得de已yǐ，

果guǒ而ér勿wù强qiáng。

物wù壮zhuàng则zé老lǎo，

是shì谓wèi不bù道dào，

不bù道dào早zǎo已yǐ。

a> He who assists a ruler by means of the Dao does not coerce the world by means of arms. Consequences come back around like a ring.

Where troops encamp, brambles grow;

After great armies, crops always fail. The good man is simply resolute; he never employs coercion. Be resolute without boast, resolute without threat, resolute without pride. Resolute from necessity, be resolute without coercion.

b> When things in their prime grow old, they are called ‘contrary to the Dao’. What is contrary to the Dao comes to an early end.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.