原文
公有领域以道佐人主者，不以兵強天下。
其事好還。
師之所處，荊棘生焉。大軍之後，必有凶年。
善有果而已，不敢以取強。
果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。
果而不得已，果而勿強。
物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。
王弼注
待校读以道佐人主，尚不可以兵强於天下，況人主躬於道者乎。
為始者務欲立功生事，而有道者務欲還反無為，故云，其事好還也。
言師凶害之物也。無有所濟，必有所傷，賊害人民，殘荒田畝，故曰荊棘生焉。
果猶濟也。言善用師者，趣以濟難而已矣，不以兵力取强於天下也。
吾不以師道為尚，不得已而用，何矜驕之有也。
言用兵雖趣功果濟難，然時故不得已，當復用者，但當以除暴亂，不遂用果以為强也。
壯，武力暴興，喻以兵强於天下者也。飄風不終朝，驟雨不終日，故暴興必不道早已也。
河上公章句
待校读謂人主能以道自輔佐也。
以道自佐之主，不以兵革，順天任德，敵人自服。
其舉事好還自責，不怨於人也。
農事廢，田不修。
天應之以惡氣，即害五穀，盡傷人也。
善用兵者，當果敢而已，不美之。
不以果敢取強大之名也。
當果敢謙卑，勿自矜大也。
當果敢推讓，勿自伐取其美也。
驕，欺也。果敢勿以驕欺人。
當果敢至誠，不當逼迫不得已也。
果敢勿以為強兵、堅甲以欺凌人也。
草木壯極則枯落，人壯極則衰老也。言強者不可以久。
枯老者，坐不行道也。
不行道者早死。
Legge 1891
Public domainHe who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Tao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return. Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years. A skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery. When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This may be said to be not in accordance with the Tao: and what is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end.