道德经英文版 The Tao-te Ching Chapter 36

1. When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration1; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow2 another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil3 another, he will first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light (of his procedure).'

2. The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.

3. Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.

将欲歙之，必固张之;

将欲弱之，必固强之;

将欲废之，必固兴之;

将欲取之，必固与之。

是谓微明，柔弱胜刚强。

鱼不可脱于渊，邦之利器不可以示人。

【译文】

想要收束它，必须暂且扩张它;想要削弱它，必须暂且增强它;想要废黜它，必须暂且兴举它;想要执取它，必须暂且给予它。这就叫做不引人注意的明道境地，是柔弱战胜刚强的机理所在。鱼不可以离开深厚的水体而生存，国家的有效力的凭恃不可以轻易展示于人。

1 expiration        

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?

This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

2 overthrow        

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。

The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

3 despoil        

v.夺取，抢夺

参考例句：

The victorious army despoil the city of all its treasure.得胜的军队把城里的财宝劫掠一空。

He used his ruthless and destructive armies despoil everybody who lived within reach of his realm.他动用其破坏性的军队残暴地掠夺国内的人民。