1. men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die.

2. of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death.

3. there are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death. and for what reason? because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.

4. but i have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon. the rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point. and for what reason? because there is in him no place of death.

出生入死。生之徒，十有三；死之徒，十有三；人之生，動之于死地，亦十有三。

夫何故？以其生之厚。蓋聞善攝生者，路行不遇兕虎，入軍不被甲兵；兕無所投其角，虎無所用其爪，兵無所容其刃。夫何故？以其無死地。

【译文】

出离维生之道就入于速死之途。人世间，属于长寿的，占十分之三；属于短命的，占十分之三；因为行举失道而自速其死的，也占十分之三。这是什么缘故呢？因为他自执过高而导致奉养所需过重。据说，善于维护生命的人，在陆上行走不会遭遇凶恶的犀牛和猛虎，即使参加战争，也不会受到武器的伤害。对于他，犀牛于其身无处投角，猛虎于其身无处伸爪，武器于其身无处显露锋芒。为什么会这样呢？因为他根本就没有可以让人致其于死命的要害部位。