第31章 · 原文
现代白话译文
精良的兵器，是不祥的器物，人们都厌恶它，所以有道的人不使用它。君子平时以左边为贵，打仗时以右边为贵。兵器是不祥的器物，不是君子使用的器物，万不得已才使用它，最好淡然处之。胜利了也不要得意洋洋，如果得意洋洋，就是以杀人为乐。以杀人为乐的人，是不能在天下得志的。吉庆的事情以左边为上，凶丧的事情以右边为上。偏将军站在左边，上将军站在右边，这是说用丧礼的仪式来对待战争。杀人众多，要用悲哀的心情对待，打了胜仗要用丧礼的仪式来处理。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
夫佳兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上。胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏将军居左，上将军居右，言以丧礼处之。杀人之众，以悲哀泣之，战胜以丧礼处之。
河上公注（汉）
夫佳兵者，佳兵者，利兵也。不祥之器者，兵刃杀人，不祥也。有道者不处也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
與其悲之於後，何如忘之於先；與其以凶禮居功，何如以吉道處無功之地。不能先機，不能擇吉，不能因間以有餘，所謂「彼惡知禮意」者也。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此承上言不以兵強天下，故此甚言兵之不可尚也。佳兵，乃用兵之最精巧者，謂之佳兵。凡善用兵者，必甘心於殺人。兵益佳而禍益深，故為不祥之器。歷觀古今善用兵者，不但不得其死，而多無後。此蓋殺機自絕，而造物或惡之者。以其詐變不正，好殺不仁，故有道者不處。不但有道者不處，而苟有仁心者，亦不處也。何以知其然耶。觀夫君子所居則以左為貴，用兵則以右為貴，然右乃凶地，由是而知兵者，乃不祥之器，非君子之器也。萬一不得已而用之者。老子誡曰，當以恬淡為上。恬淡者，言其心和平，不以功利為美，而厭飽之意。既無貪功欲利之心，則雖勝而不以為美。縱不貪功利，而若以勝為美者，亦是甘心樂於殺人。夫樂於殺人者，必不可使其得志於天下矣。且世之吉事必尚左。凶事則尚右。凶事，謂喪事也。所以用兵則貴右，言其可哀也。故兵家以偏將軍居左，以上將軍居右者，蓋上將軍司殺之重者。言居上勢者，則當以喪禮處之也。故殺人眾多，則當以悲哀泣之。即戰勝，亦當以喪禮處之。甚言其不得已而用之，即不得已而處之也。上二章，通言人臣不能以道佐人主，而返以兵為強者，故切誡之。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
夫兵者，不祥之器也。物或恶之，故有欲者弗居。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen. All things detest them. Therefore the man of the way does not dwell in them. The gentleman values the left in daily life, but values the right in war. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not instruments of the gentleman. When不得已 use them, it is best to be calm and restrained. Victory should not be celebrated. Those who celebrate victory are those who enjoy killing. If you enjoy killing, you cannot gain the world. On auspicious occasions the left is valued, on inauspicious occasions the right is valued. The lieutenant general is on the left, the general on the right. This shows that they are placed as if for a funeral. When many people are killed, mourn them with grief. When victorious in war, observe it as a funeral.
Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen. All things detest them. Therefore the man of the way does not dwell in them. The gentleman values the left in daily life, but values the right in war. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not instruments of the gentleman. When one must use them, it is best to be calm and restrained. Victory should not be celebrated. Those who celebrate victory are those who enjoy killing. If you enjoy killing, you cannot gain the world. On auspicious occasions the left is valued, on inauspicious occasions the right is valued. The lieutenant general is on the left, the general on the right. This shows that they are placed as if for a funeral. When many people are killed, mourn them with grief. When victorious in war, observe it as if conducting a funeral.
Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen. All things detest them. Therefore those with the way do not dwell in them. The gentleman values the left in daily life, but in war values the right. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not the gentleman's instruments. When one must use them, calm detachment is best. Do not celebrate victory. Those who celebrate victory kill people. Those who kill people cannot fulfill their purpose in the world. On auspicious occasions the left is valued, on inauspicious the right is valued. The lieutenant general is on the left, the general on the right. This is said to be conducting it like a funeral. When many people are killed, mourn them with grief. When victorious in war, conduct it like a funeral.