古之所谓善战者，胜于易胜者也。

　　What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins， but excels in winning with ease.

　　故善战者之胜也，无智名，无勇功，Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.

　　故其战胜不忒。不忒者，其所措胜，胜已败者也。

　　He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory， for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

　　故善战者，立于不败之地，而不失敌之败也。

　　Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible， and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

　　是故胜兵先胜而后求战，败兵先战而后求胜。

　　Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won， whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

　　善用兵者，修道而保法，故能为胜败之政。

　　The consummate leader cultivates the moral law， and strictly adheres to method and discipline； thus it is in his power to control success.

　　兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰数，四曰称，五曰胜。

　　In respect of military method， we have， firstly， Measurement； secondly， Estimation of quantity； thirdly， Calculation； fourthly， Balancing of chances； fifthly， Victory.

　　地生度，度生量，量生数，数生称，称生胜。

　　Measurement owes its existence to Earth； Estimation of quantity to Measurement； Calculation to Estimation of quantity； Balancing of chances to Calculation； and Victory to Balancing of chances.

　　故胜兵若以镒称铢，败兵若以铢称镒。

　　A victorious army opposed to a routed one， is as a pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain.

　　称胜者之战民也，若决积水于千仞之溪者，形也。

　　The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.