Verse 36
Contraction pulls at that
which extends too far
Weakness pulls at that
which strengthens too much
Ruin pulls at that
which rises too high
Loss pulls at life
when you fill it with too much stuff
The lesson here is called
"The wisdom of obscurity"—
The gentle outlast the strong
The obscure outlast the obvious
Hence, a fish that ventures from deep water
is soon snagged by a net
A country that reveals its strength
is soon conquered by an enemy
which extends too far
Weakness pulls at that
which strengthens too much
Ruin pulls at that
which rises too high
Loss pulls at life
when you fill it with too much stuff
The lesson here is called
"The wisdom of obscurity"—
The gentle outlast the strong
The obscure outlast the obvious
Hence, a fish that ventures from deep water
is soon snagged by a net
A country that reveals its strength
is soon conquered by an enemy
