When a noble man is in his dwelling, then he honors the left. When he commands troops, then he honors the right. Weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. They are not the tools of a noble man. When he has no choice but to use them, To be calm and indifferent is superior – Never pleased, indeed! And he who is pleased enjoys killing people. Now : he who enjoys killing people Can not get what he desires from the world! Therefore : in fortunate affairs honor the left, In unfortunate affairs honor the right. Thus the assistant general of the army resides on the left, The supreme general of the army resides on the right. Thus we say they are dwelling at a funeral : When many people are killed, Then mourn and weep with grief for them. Victory in war thus means they will dwell at a funeral. Now : fine weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. [auspicious,lucky] ♦Creatures detest them, no matter what. Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them. ♦When a noble man2* is in his dwelling, then he honors the left. ♦When he commands troops2, then he honors the right. Weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. [auspicious,lucky] They are not the tools of a noble man2*. ♦When he has no choice3 but to use them, To be calm and indifferentA is superior – Never pleased, indeed!B And he who is pleased [he] enjoys2 killing people. [is happy,pleased] Now : he who enjoys killing people [happy,pleased] Can2 not get what he desires from the world2 ! [ambition,will] Therefore : in fortunate affairs honor the left, In unfortunate affairs honor the right. Thus2 the assistant general2 of the army resides on the left, ♦The supreme general of the army resides on the right. [highest,superior] Thus we say they are dwelling at a funeral2C : When many people are killed, Then mourn and weep with grief 2 for them. [thus] Victory in war thus means they will dwell at a funeral2. Notes The first three lines are not in GUO A : WB and HSG’s use of “indifferent” seems the most neutral, but the three earliest sources technically have the majority with “reverent”, while FY has “peaceful”