1. there is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.

2. every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice.

3. therefore a sage has said,

'he who accepts his state's reproach,

is hailed therefore its altars' lord;

to him who bears men's direful woes

they all the name of king accord.'

4. words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.

天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，以其无以易之。

柔之胜刚，弱之胜强，天下莫不知，而莫能行。

是以圣人云：爱国之垢，是谓社稷主；受国之不祥，是谓天下王。

正言若反。

【译文】

天下没有比水更柔弱的，但攻坚克强却没有什么能胜过它，因为没有什么可以真正改变得了它。柔能胜过刚，弱能胜过强，天下没有人不知道，但又没有人能实行。因此，圣人常说：能承受全国的屈辱，才配作天下的君主；能承担全国的灾难，才配作天下的君王。确切的话语常常让人觉得不以为然！