Chapter 76
第七十六章
Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong.
人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。
(So it is with) all things. Trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered.
万物草木之生也柔弱，其死也枯槁。

Thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants of death; softness and weakness, the concomitants of life.
故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。
Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer;
是以兵强则不胜，
and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller.)
木强则兵，
Therefore the place of what is firm and strong is below, and that of what is soft and weak is above.
强大处下，柔弱处上。