Verse 36: Cycle of Yin and Yang

將欲歙之，必固張之。
What desires reduction must have been expanded.
將欲弱之，必固強之。
What desires weakness must have been strengthened.
將欲廢之，必固興之。
What desires decay must have flourished.
將欲取之，必固與之。
What desires being taken must have been given.
是謂微明。
This is called subtle enlightenment.
柔弱勝剛強。
The soft and weak overcomes the hard and strong.
魚不可脫於淵，
Since fish cannot be removed from the ocean,
國之利器不可以示人
A nation's weapons cannot be shown to men.

Comments
Laozi spends the first part mentioned natural cycles, how all forms of activity/positivity (yang) revert back to their opposite (yin). The beauty of the language is that one's positive actions ironically lead to negative outcomes. By displaying yang energy, one exhausts it and reverts to yin. This is especially important in all forms of warfare.