Below is the chapter from two excellent sources along with the original Chinese text. The first source is from a translation by D.T. Suzuki and Paul Carus in 1913 followed by a translation by Stephen Mitchell in 1988.
Chapter 76
1. Man during life is tender and delicate. When he dies he is stiff and stark.
2. The ten thousand things, the grass as well as the trees, while they live are tender and supple. When they die they are rigid and dry.
3. Thus the hard and the strong are the companions of death. The tender and the delicate are the companions of life.
Therefore he who in arms is strong will not conquer.
4. When a tree has grown strong it is doomed.
5. The strong and the great stay below. The tender and the delicate stay above.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
2. The ten thousand things, the grass as well as the trees, while they live are tender and supple. When they die they are rigid and dry.
3. Thus the hard and the strong are the companions of death. The tender and the delicate are the companions of life.
Therefore he who in arms is strong will not conquer.
4. When a tree has grown strong it is doomed.
5. The strong and the great stay below. The tender and the delicate stay above.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
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