齊勇如一，政之道也；
The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
剛柔皆得，地之理也。
How to make the best of both strong and weak--that is a question involving the proper use of ground.
故善用兵者，攜手若使一人，不得已也。
Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
將軍之事，靜以幽，正以治，
It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.
能愚士卒之耳目，使之無知；
He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
易其事，革其謀，使人無識；易其居，迂其途，使民不得慮。
By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
帥與之期，如登高而去其梯；帥與之深入諸侯之地，而發(fā)其機。
At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.
若驅群羊，驅而往，驅而來，莫知所之。
He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going.
聚三軍之眾，投之于險，此謂將軍之事也。
To muster his host and bring it into danger:--this may be termed the business of the general.
九地之變，屈伸之力，人情之理，不可不察也。
The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be studied.
凡為客之道，深則專，淺則散。
When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion.
去國越境而師者，絕地也；四徹者，衢地也；
When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across neighborhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.
入深者，重地也；入淺者，輕地也；
When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground.
背固前隘者，圍地也；無所往者，死地也。
When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear, and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.
是故散地吾將一其志，輕地吾將使之屬，
Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. On facile ground, I would see that there is close connection between all parts of my army.
爭地吾將趨其后，
On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.
交地吾將謹其守，交地吾將固其結，衢地吾將謹其恃，
On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defenses. On ground of intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances.