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They are certainly doomed。
Compassion gives you victory in battle
And strength in defense。
When heaven comes to your rescue
With its compassion it keeps you safe。
68
The best soldier is not violent。
The best fighter does not fly into rage。
The best winner does not engage the opponent。
The best employer does not put himself above others。
This is the virtue of non…contending。
This is the ability of managing people。
This is the finest way of matching heaven。
69
Experts in warfare have a saying：
〃I dare not launch an attack。
I'd rather mount a defense。
I dare not advance a foot；
I'd rather retreat a mile。〃
This is called：
Moving forward without moving forward。
Removing the sleeves without baring the arms。
Being armed without holding a weapon。
Seizing the enemy without confronting him。
There is no worse disaster than to have no enemy。
If I have no enemy my treasure is as good as lost。
Thus when the battle begins
And the opponents are evenly matched
It is the grieving side that wins。
70
My words are easy to understand
And it is easy to follow them。
Yet they can be grasped by no one in the world
And there is no one who can follow them。
My words are of an ancient origin。
My actions are guided by reason。
Yet this remains unknown；
So I remain unknown； too。
Those who know me are few
This is what honors me。
The sage wears plain clothing。
His true wealth is concealed in his heart。
71
If you know that you're ignorant you are fine。
If you don't know that you're ignorant you are flawed。
Only when you recognize your flaws
Will you become flawless。
The sage is free from flaws。
He's flawless because he knows his flaws。
72
When people have no fear of what they should fear。
Something really fearsome will come on them。
Do not constrict their living space。
Do not reduce their means of livelihood。
If they抮e not pestered they will not get weary。
Therefore the sage knows himself
But does not flaunt himself。
He loves himself
But does not exalt himself。
He chooses what truly has value；
Spurns what only seems that way。
73
The one whose courage comes from being fearless
Gets killed。
The one whose courage comes from being fearful
Stays alive。
Both kinds of bravery lead to benefit or harm。
If one of them heaven detests who knows the reason why？
Even the sage is unable to explain this。
The Tao of heaven excels at overcoming without competing；
At responding without speaking；
At drawing to itself without beckoning；
At laying plans without hurrying。
Heaven's weapons are crude； its targets strewn wide
Yet when it takes aim it won't miss the mark。
74
If people have no fear of death
It's pointless to threaten them with it。
If people were in constant fear of death；
And if anyone acting deviously
Were to be seized and executed；
Who would dare to do so？
The Master Executioner is always there to kill。
If you attempt to play his role
It is like trying to do the work of a master lumberjack。
The one who has no skill to do this work
Seldom escapes with his hands unhurt。
75
Why are the people starving？
Because those above them put heavy taxes on them
And eat up their grain。
That's why the people are starving。
Why are the people difficult to rule？
Because those above them are meddlesome。
That's why the people are difficult to rule。
Why are the people are unconcerned about death？
Because those above them care too much about life。
That's why the people are unconcerned about death。
It is better to disregard life
Than to exalt it too much。
76
Living people are supple and soft。
When they're dead they are rigid and hard。
Living plants are pliant and green。
When they're dead they抮e unbending and dry。
Thus what's rigid and hard accompanies death
And what's pliant and soft accompanies life。
If a soldier's too strong； he will suffer defeat。
If a tree is too hard it will be cut down。
The strong and big go down。
The soft and weak go high。
77
The Tao of heaven is like the bending of a bow。
What is high is brought down。
What is low is sent high。
What's excessive is reduced。
What's insufficient is increased。
The Tao of heaven takes from those who have too much
And gives to those who are in want。
The people's way is not like that。
They take from those who are in want
And give to those who have too much。
Yet who is able to have enough to give it to the world？
Only the one who has Tao。
Therefore the sage toils but expects no praise。
He does his work but does not dwell on it。
He does not wish to make a display of his merit。
78
There is nothing in the world softer than water。
And there's nothing weaker。
Yet for attacking the hard and strong
There is nothing better。
There is no substitute for it。
What is weak defeats what's strong。
What is soft defeats what's hard。
This is something known to all。
Yet this knowledge is used by none。
That's why the sage declares：
〃If you bear the country's dishonor
You become the lord of its shrines。
If you bear the country's misfortune
You become the king of the world。〃
True words seem to sound wrong。
79
When great enemies settle their quarrel
Some of their enmity will linger on。
Is there a way to set things right？
The sage abides by the agreement
And does not seek to assign blame。
People of virtue meet their obligations。
Those without virtue exact their claims。
The Tao of heaven does not take sides。
Yet it always stays with the good。
80
If a country is small its people are few。
Having tools in abundance； they're unwilling to use them。
Mindful of death； they do not venture far。
Having wagons and boats； they do not ride in them。
Having weapons and shields； they keep them out of sight。
To keep records they've returned to using knotted cords。
They relish their food；
Delight in their clothes；
Find peace in their homes；
And joy in their plain way of life。
Though the neighboring country is within sight；
And its roosters and dogs can be heard；
People live； grow old and die
Without ever leaving to visit their neighbors。
81
True words are not beautiful。
Beautiful words are not true。
Good people do not argue。
Those who argue are not good。
Those who know are not learned。
The learned do not know。
The sage accumulates nothing。
The more he does for others； the more he has。
The more he gives to others； the more he receives。
The Tao of heaven
Is to benefit； not harm。
The Tao of the sage