Modesty

謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。

With deep modesty, the exemplary person crosses the great river. Favorable.

At the bottom line, the mountain is buried within earth at its lowest point. Firming this yielding place changes the lower trigram to fire and produces Hexagram 36.

鳴謙，貞吉。

Modesty made known. Constancy is favorable.

Modesty becomes known at the centered second line without losing its inner basis. Changing Line 2 to firm turns lower mountain into wind and produces Hexagram 46.

勞謙，君子有終吉。

Laboring yet modest, the exemplary person completes the work. Favorable.

The laboring third line is the figure's only firm place and the summit of the hidden mountain. If it yields, all six lines are broken and the result is Hexagram 2.

无不利，撝謙。

Nothing is without benefit. Modesty is extended in every movement.

Line 4 sits immediately above the mountain and extends modesty into the outer trigram; firming it changes upper earth to thunder and forms Hexagram 62.

不富以其鄰，利用侵伐，无不利。

Not rich, yet able to draw on the neighbors. Launching an attack is beneficial. Nothing is without benefit.

The centered fifth line draws support without wealth. Its modesty is joined to an attack on those who resist. Changing Line 5 to firm turns upper earth to water and produces Hexagram 39.

鳴謙。利用行師征邑國。

Modesty made known. Mobilizing the army to campaign against one’s own towns and domains is beneficial.

At the top line, recognized modesty is joined to a military campaign within one’s own domains. The traditional reading restricts its reach because this line lacks the ruler’s office. Changing Line 6 to firm makes upper earth into mountain and produces Hexagram 52.