【原文】
夫兵者,不祥之器,物或惡之,故有道者不處。
君子居則貴左,用兵則貴右。兵者不祥之器,非君子之器,不得已而用之,恬淡為上。勝而不美,而美之者,是樂殺人。夫樂殺人者,則不可得志于天下矣。
吉事尚左,兇事尚右。偏將軍居左,上將軍居右,言以喪禮處之。殺人之眾,以悲哀泣之,戰(zhàn)勝以喪禮處之。
【現(xiàn)代漢語】
兵戈是不祥的東西,為世人所厭惡,所以有‘道’的人不去使用它。
君子不到萬不得已不會使用武力,對其淡然,即便取得戰(zhàn)爭的勝利也不得意洋洋,因戰(zhàn)勝而得意洋洋的人,是嗜殺為樂。嗜殺為樂,是不會得志于天下的。
因為戰(zhàn)爭傷人眾多,所以出兵打仗應該用喪禮的儀式和心態(tài)。帶著哀痛的心情去應對迫不得已的戰(zhàn)爭,打了勝仗要用喪禮的儀式去處理。
【英譯】
War is evil, hated by common people. So the man who acts accord with the principle of Tao will not employ it.
The sage uses the arm cautiously and calmly till it's no alternative. He won't be high-blown even in victory. The man who indulges in war and victory is bloodthirsty. The bloodthirsty one can not achieve his ambition in the world.
To join the battle in funeral rite because the war will kills multitudes of men. The victor in battle has his place rightly in truth.