Chapter XXXI
(Chapter 31)

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Ko Yuen Translation

Composing Quarrel
1. Arms, though they be beautiful, are of ill omen, abominable to all created beings.  They who have the Tao love not their use.
2. The place of honour is on the right in wartime; so thinketh the man of distinction.  Sharp weapons are ill-omened, unworthy of such a man; he useth them only in necessity.  He valueth peace and ease, desireth not violence of victory.  To desire victory is to desire the death of men; and to desire that is to fail to propitiate the people.
3. At feasts, the left hand is the high seat; at funerals, the right.  The second in command of the army leadeth the left wing, the commander-in- chief, the right wing; it is as if the battle were a rite of mourning!  He that hath slain most men should weep for them most bitterly; so then the place of the victor is assigned to him with philosophical propriety.

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S. Mitchell Translation
Weapons are the tools of violence;
all decent men detest them.

Weapons are the tools of fear;
a decent man will avoid them
except in the direst necessity
and, if compelled, will use them
only with the utmost restraint.
Peace is his highest value.
If the peace has been shattered,
how can he be content?
His enemies are not demons,
but human beings like himself.
He doesn't wish them personal harm.
Nor does he rejoice in victory.
How could he rejoice in victory
and delight in the slaughter of men?

He enters a battle gravely,
with sorrow and with great compassion,
as if he were attending a funeral.

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James Legge Translation
1. Now arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen, hateful, it may be said, to all creatures.  Therefore they who have the Tao do not like to employ them.
2. The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand.  Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior man; he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity.  Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable.  To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.
3. On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand.  The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right; his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning.  He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.

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GNL not Lao Interpolation

Armies
Armies are tools of violence;
They cause men to hate and fear.
The sage will not join them.
His purpose is creation;
Their purpose is destruction.

Weapons are tools of violence,
Not of the sage;
He uses them only when there is no choice,
And then calmly, and with tact,
For he finds no beauty in them.

Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men;
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace.

So slaughters must be mourned
And conquest celebrated with a funeral.

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