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Chinese text
将欲翕之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲夺之，必固与之。
是谓微明。
柔胜刚，弱胜强。
鱼不可脱于渊，
国有利器，不可示人。
Translation
When a creature is about to contract, one recognizes with certainty that in its origin it had expansion.
If it is about to weaken, one recognizes with certainty that in its origin it had strength.
If it is about to wither, one recognizes with certainty that in its origin it had splendor.
If it is about to be stripped of everything, one recognizes with certainty that in its origin it was filled with gifts.
This is called a doctrine that is both hidden and shining.
The soft overcomes the hard; the weak overcomes the strong.
The fish must not leave the depths; the sharp weapon of the kingdom must not be shown to the people.
Notes
The word 翕 (commonly meaning to inhale) means here 'to contract, to tighten'; 张 means 'to develop, to expand'.
The word 固 (commonly meaning solid) means here 'from the beginning'. — See my translation of 孟子 , I, 90, 2; II, 84, 6.
If you see a creature extremely developed from birth, you recognize by this sign that it will diminish. If you see it showing its strength, you recognize that it will weaken. If you see it, from birth, in a flourishing state, you recognize that it will wither, etc.
Although these principles are evident (to the sage), in reality they are abstract and as if hidden (to the common people who are incapable of drawing such conclusions from the apparent state of things or creatures).
If the most flourishing things wither, etc., it is evident that the soft things can triumph over the hard (cf. chap. LXXVIII), and that the weak things can triumph over the strong. Hardness and strength are the path that leads to danger and death; softness and weakness are the path to peace and salvation. He who governs a kingdom could he boast of his power and strength? If the fish can hide at the bottom of the waters, it preserves its life. It must not engage in violent movements and leap onto the land; for it would fall into the power of man and would not long survive. But when the fish (which the fisherman had caught) leaves the hard element (the land) and has the soft element (water), no one can master it anymore. Similarly, if a kingdom can preserve weakness (that is, appear weak even though it is powerful), it will remain constantly at peace. It must not boast of its power and strength (according to 王弼 , the expression 'sharp weapon of the kingdom' refers to power, authority), nor display it before the eyes of the whole empire. Otherwise, its power would be exhausted, its strength would wane, and it could not preserve its states.
Normally, the words 可 以 mean 'it can', and indicate that the following verb is active; but here one must consider the word 以 (commonly meaning to use) as a synonym of the word 将 (to take) in modern style, when it indicates the accusative, and construct it as if there were: 不 可 将 国 之 利 器 示 人 , 'One must not (literally) taking the sharp weapon of the kingdom show it to people', that is, one must not show the sharp weapon of the kingdom to people.
The commentator 李士谦 adopted this construction: 国之利器不可以示人 ; 以示人 , as if there were 将示人 (if capiens illud, ostendas hominibus, that is, if you show it to people), if you show it to people, then, etc. This construction is also found in 王弼 and many other commentaries.
