原文
公有领域天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者，莫之能勝，其無以易之。
弱之勝強，柔之勝剛，天下莫不知莫能行。是以聖人云：「受國之垢，是謂社稷主；受國不祥，是為天下王。」正言若反。
王弼注
待校读以，用也。其，謂水也。言用水之柔弱，無物可以易之也。
河上公章句
待校读圓中則圓，方中則方，壅之則止，決之則行。
水能懷山襄陵，磨鐵消銅，莫能勝水而成功也。
夫攻堅強者，無以易於水。
水能滅火，陰能消陽。
舌柔齒剛，齒先舌亡。
知柔弱者久長，剛強者折傷。
恥謙卑，好強梁。
謂下事也。
人君能受國之垢濁者，若江海不逆小流，則能長保其社稷，為一國之君主也。
人君能引過自與，代民受不祥之殃，則可以王天下。
此乃正直之言，世人不知，以為反言。
Legge 1891
Public domainThere is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water,
and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing
that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual)
for which it can be changed.
Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and
the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice.
Therefore a sage has said,
'He who accepts his state's reproach,
Is hailed therefore its altars' lord;
To him who bears men's direful woes
They all the name of King accord.'
Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.