Sun-Tzu's Art of War
mili-sukob-sanatos lae fe sunsuo
I. LAYING PLANS
I. kasa pelana
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
1. Sunsuo me ansa: mili-sukob-sanatos istinu wedi mate alukos.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
2. los kwe eleteo ye mawto, los hodo de tamengo oe tapyo. los sayu kono kwe le cimuno lae nae bisaa wesea mate yi kinoo.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
3. mili-sukob-sanatos sayu te netana fe keyn bati elemo lae te kinoa mate awkela, hie ceo lae kona le halao lae dafe sukob-eyfo.
4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
4. tae: (1) kal-lago (2) wati-yelo (3) nehaso (4) netano (5) lendo mwe id-makto
5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
5,6. kali lago koda lae le omo tafaha mwe le li netano, mate le lo ke eskola lo elike le li eleteo, nae te baysua fe yi feseyo.
7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
7. yelo isala osko mwe hio, ays-halao mwe ot-halao, le samino mwe le sesono.
8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
8. de nehaso tae kyolio, lafi ye bali; feseyo ye tamengo, bali le palano ye lafi le lokao; le nafaso kwe eleteo oe mawto
9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness.
9. netanos tamenga le elemo lae yad-halao, istin-halao, any-halao, makt-halao, ye lend-halao
10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
10. omo talua lendo mwe id-makto mate pelanas milios de le kali taylos, ye mate bawcoa kima-omo, ye mate tamenga le hodo lae laywena tofalo, ye mate le mili-may-mekos.
11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
11. fi keyn elemo sefame te ba fe osi netanos: omo lae yada le elemo liana; omo lae nae yada le elemo tapya.
12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:
12. hibene to awkela, hie ceo lae kona le milii ceo, to sayu sefame wistala le lo tongwe fi le tedo:
13.
(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
(1) kwe don netanos, de ki netanos, tae kali lago?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(2) de ki netanos, tae sefe tiedeo?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(3) de ki netanos, tae le kalo lae fe celo mwe nehaso?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(4) ki milios sefe maktu polisa id-makto?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(5) ki milios sele makti?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(6) ki milios sele kalu cinpoa lis kima-omo ye mili-omo?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
(7) de ki milios, tae sele kali kuwio kwe bawcoo ye ekabo
14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
14. tongwe fi sun awkelo, wo bisaa oletaa liano oe tapyo.
15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:—let such a one be dismissed!
15. netanos ke liana be lo ela wi heleo ye koda tongwe lo. fi omo sefame netana! Netanos ke tapya be lo nae ela wi heleo ye nae koda tongwe lo. fi omo sefame wesea!
16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.
16. hibye ela wi liani heleo, ba yi helei ceo lae twe le kuwii lago.
17. According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.
17. hie samino lae le ceo sopia, omo sefame kaela li le pelano.
18. All warfare is based on deception.
18. yalano opola osi mili-sukobos.
19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
19. hie ceo lae bisaa sukoba, le wo sayu talua besela lae nae bisaa. hie ceo lae kinoa le wi milio, talua besela lae nae kinoa. hie ceo lae le wo nifei, talua koda lae dismano eska le wo wesei. hie ceo lae le wo wesei, talua koda lae lo eska le wo nifei.
20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
20. lowkwa dismano. yalanu koponaa hunduno ye konecas lo.
21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
21. be lo te tamenga de osi ondo, pelana. be lo sele makti, sayu wesea lo.
22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
22. be ti dismano wakalu te gadaba, sayu atempa gadaba lo. yalanu koponaa kye lafi mate lo ke aolaa.
23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
23. be lo sona, nae koda lae lo sona. be li milios batis, tayla los.
24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
24. gia ya iska lo de oyo lae dismano nae me pelana
25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
25. fi le mili-elemo lae koda liano talua nae hiante te dala.
26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
26. ne, netanos lae liana sukobos noa fali liadao hiante sukobos begina. netanos lae tapya sukobos nae da. fali liadao sayu koda liano, ye feti oe nun koda tapyo. tongwe fi elemo, wo bisaa oletaa omo lae liana oe tapya.