原文
公有领域用兵有言：「吾不敢為主而為客，不敢進寸而退尺。」是謂行無行，
攘無臂，扔無敵，
執無兵。
禍莫大於輕敵，輕敵幾喪吾寶。
故抗兵相加，哀者勝矣。
王弼注
待校读彼遂不止。
行，謂行陳也，言以謙退哀慈，不敢為物先，用戰猶行無行，攘無臂，執無兵，扔無敵也，言無有與之抗也。
言吾哀慈謙退，非欲以取强，無敵於天下也。不得已而卒至於無敵，斯乃吾之所以為大禍也。寶，三寶也，故曰，幾亡吾寶。
抗，舉也；加，當也。哀者，必相惜而不趣利避害，故必勝。
河上公章句
待校读陳用兵之道。老子疾時用兵，故託己設其義也。
主，先也。不敢先舉兵。
客者，和而不倡。用兵當承天而後動。
侵人境界，利人財寶，為進；閉門守城，為退。
彼遂不止，為天下賊，雖行誅之，不行執也。
雖欲大怒，若無臂可攘也。
雖欲仍引之，若無敵可仍也。
雖欲執持之，若無兵刃可持用也。何者？傷彼之民罹罪於天，遭不道之君，愍忍喪之痛也。
夫禍亂之害，莫大於欺輕敵家，侵取不休，輕戰貪財也。
幾，近也。寶，身也。欺輕敵者，近喪身也。
兩敵戰也。
哀者慈仁，士卒不遠於死。
Legge 1891
Public domainA master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the
host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the
defensive). I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a
foot.' This is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks;
baring the arms (to fight) where there are no arms to bare; grasping
the weapon where there is no weapon to grasp; advancing against the
enemy where there is no enemy.
There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war. To do
that is near losing (the gentleness) which is so precious. Thus it is
that when opposing weapons are (actually) crossed, he who deplores
(the situation) conquers.