原文
公有领域將欲歙之，必固張之；將欲弱之，必固強之；將欲廢之，必固興之；將欲奪之，必固與之。是謂微明。
柔弱勝剛強。魚不可脫於淵，國之利器不可以示人。
王弼注
待校读將欲除强梁，去暴亂，當以此四者。因物之性，令其自戮，不假刑為大，以除將物也，故曰微明也。足其張，令之足，而又求其張，則眾所歙也，與其張之不足，而改其求張者，愈益而已反危。
利器，利國之器也。唯因物之性，不假刑以理物，器不可覩，而物各得其所，則國之利器也。示人者，任刑也。刑以利國則失矣。魚脫於淵，則必見失矣。利國器而立刑以示人，亦必失也。
河上公章句
待校读先開張之者，欲極其奢淫。
先強大之者，欲使遇禍患。
先興之者，欲使其驕危。
先與之者，欲極其貪心。
此四事，其道微，其效明也。
柔弱者久長，剛強者先亡也。
魚脫於淵，謂去剛得柔，不可複製焉。
利器者，謂權道也。治國權者，不可以示執事之臣也。治身道者，不可以示非其人也。
Legge 1891
Public domainWhen one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will
first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light (of his procedure).'
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.