Chapter 9

持而盈之，不如其已；
揣而銳之，不可長保。
金玉滿堂，莫之能守；
富貴而驕，自遺其咎。
功遂身退，天之道。

Holding a thing and filling it to the brim is not as good as stopping;
hammered to a fine edge, a blade cannot keep it long.
A hall full of gold and jade can be guarded by no one;
rich and high and proud, one brings ruin on oneself.
To withdraw when the work is done is the Way of heaven.