;

Now if one blunts the military

Critical Text

夫	鈍	兵	挫	銳	屈
fu	dun	bing	cuo	rui	qu
Now	blunt	military	grind	sharp	diminish

力	殫	貨	則	諸	侯
li	dan	huo	ze	zhu	hou
strength	exhaust	goods	then	feudal	lords

乘	其	弊	而	起	雖	知
cheng	qi	bi	er	qi	sui	zhi
rides	one's	distress	and	rise	although	wise

者	不	能	善	其	後	矣
zhe	bu	neng	shan	qi	hou	yi
one	not	able	good	its	aftermath	!

Yinqueshan Text

。。。起雖　知者不能善其後矣

Shiyijia zhu Text

夫鈍兵挫銳屈力殫貨則諸侯乘其弊　而起雖有智者不能善其後矣

Translation

Now if one blunts the military, grinds down its sharpness, diminishes its strength, and exhausts its goods, then the feudal lords ride one's distress and rise up. Even one who is wise cannot make good the aftermath!