第30章 · 原文
现代白话译文
用道辅佐君主的人，不靠兵力在天下逞强。动用兵革这种事情一定会得到报应。军队驻扎过的地方，荆棘就会生长。大战之后，必定有荒年。善于用兵的人只要达到救济危难的目的就是了，不用来夺取强权。达到了目的不要自我夸耀，达到了目的不要自我吹嘘，达到了目的不要骄傲，达到了目的是出于不得已，达到了目的不要逞强。事物强壮了就会衰老，这叫作不合乎道，不合乎道就会很快灭亡。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
以道佐人主．尚不可以兵强于天下．况人主躬于道者乎．为治者务欲立功生事．而有道者务欲还反无为．故云其事好还也．言师凶害之物也．无有所济．必有所伤．贼害人民．残荒田亩．故曰荆棘生焉．果犹济也．言善用师者．趣以济难而已矣．不以兵力取强于天下也．吾不以师道为尚．不得已而用．何矜骄之有也．言用兵虽趣功济难．然时故不得已当复后用者．但当以除暴乱．不遂用果以为强也．壮武力暴兴．喩以兵强于天下者也．飘风不终朝．骤雨不终日．故暴兴必不道．早已也.
河上公注（汉）
以道佐人主者，谓人君能用道佐治也。不以兵强天下者，兵者凶器，不祥之器，不可以强天下也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
最下用兵以殺，其上用兵以生。夫以生生者且贅，而況殺生乎？人未嘗不生，而我何勸？又況夫功之門為害之府也，人未嘗不生，不能聽其生；物未嘗不殺，不能恃其殺。須臾之不忍，而自命為果，不已誣乎？故善禁暴者，俟其消，不摧其息；善治情者，塞其息，不強其消；善貴生者，持其消息之間，不犯其消息之衝；雖有患，不至於早已。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此承上言聖人不為已甚，故誡之不可以兵強天下也。凡以兵強者，過甚之事也。勢極則反，故其事好還。師之所處，必蹂踐民物，無不殘掠，故荊棘生。大軍之後，殺傷和氣，故五穀疵癘而年歲凶，此必然之勢也。然於濟弱扶傾，除暴救民，蓋有不得不用之者，惟在善用。善用者，果而已。已者，休也，此也。果，猶言結果。俗云了事便休。謂但可了事令其平服便休，不敢以此常取強焉。縱能了事，而亦不可自矜其能。亦不可自伐其功。亦不可驕恃其氣。到底若出不得已。此所謂果而不可以取強也。取強者，速敗之道。且物壯甚則易老，況兵強乎。凡物恃其強壯而過動者，必易傷。如世人恃強而用力過者，必夭死於力。恃壯而過於酒色者，必夭死於酒色。蓋傷元氣也。元氣傷，則死之速。兵強亦然。故曰是謂不道。不道早已。已者，絕也。又已者，止也。言既知其為不道，則當速止而不可再為也，亦通。孟子言威天下不以兵革之利，其有聞於此乎。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
以道佐人主，不以兵强于天下。其事好还，师之所居，楚棘生之。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
He who uses the way to assist the master does not use arms to coerce the world. Such things have repercussions. Where troops are stationed, thorns and brambles grow. A great army is inevitably followed by a bad year. One who is good achieves his purpose and stops, and does not use force to achieve it. He achieves his purpose but does not brag. He achieves his purpose but does not boast. He achieves his purpose but does not arrogance. He achieves his purpose but only when unavoidable. He achieves his purpose but does not use force. Things thrive then grow old. This is called not following the way. What does not follow the way will perish early.
He who uses the way to assist the master does not use arms to coerce the world. Such things have repercussions. Where troops are stationed, thorns and brambles grow. A great army is inevitably followed by a bad year. One who is good achieves his purpose and stops, and does not use force to achieve it. He achieves his purpose but does not brag. He achieves his purpose but does not boast. He achieves his purpose but does not show arrogance. He achieves his purpose but only when unavoidable. He achieves his purpose but does not use force. Things thrive then grow old. This is called not following the way. What does not follow the way will perish early.
Those who use the way to assist the master do not use weapons to coerce the world. Such things have repercussions. Where the army camps, thorns and brambles grow. A great army is inevitably followed by a bad year. One who is good achieves his purpose and stops, does not use force to achieve it. Achieves but does not rely on it, achieves but does not dwell on it, achieves but does not boast, achieves but only when unavoidable, achieves but does not use force. Things thrive then grow old. This is called not following the way. What does not follow the way will perish early.