Chapter 76 While people are living

 

Chapter 76

人之生也柔弱,其死也堅強。萬物草木之生也柔脆,其死也枯槁。故堅強者死之徒,柔弱者生之徒。是以兵強則不勝,木強則兵,強大處下,柔弱處上。

ren zhi sheng ye rou ruo
人之生也柔弱

While people are living, their bodies are fragile and lithe.

qi si ye jian qiang
其死也堅強

When they die, their bodies will be hard and rigid.

wan wu cao mu zhi
sheng ye rou cui
萬物草木之生也柔脆

In the wilderness, while all animals and plants are living, they are lithe.

qi si ye ku gao
其死也枯槁

When they die, they will become withered.

gu jian qiang zhe si zhi tu
故堅強者死之徒

Therefore, being hard and rigid is the way to die.

rou ruo zhe sheng zhi tu
柔弱者生之徒

Being fragile and lithe is the way to live.

shi yi bing qiang ze bu sheng
是以兵強則不勝

Anyone using strong force to conquer will never prevail.

mu qiang ze bing
木強則兵

Trees growing strong enough will only be doomed to be axed.

qiang da chu xia
強大處下

Therefore, staying hard and rigid will get you the lower hand.

rou ruo chu shang
柔弱處上

Staying fragile and lithe will get you the upper hand.