Before Completion

濡其尾，吝。

Wetting the tail. Cause for regret.

The wet tail gives Line 1 a troubled beginning. Its change makes Lake below Fire, Hexagram 38. Opposition offers a comparison with the unfinished crossing.

曳其輪，貞吉。

Dragging the wheels. Constancy is favorable.

Line 2 drags the wheels at the firm center of inner water, and constancy is favorable. Its movement yields Hexagram 35: earth replaces water beneath fire, setting restraint beside forward movement.

未濟，征凶，利涉大川。

Not yet across. Setting out brings misfortune. Crossing the great river is beneficial.

Line 3 sets the misfortune of advancing beside the benefit of crossing the great river. Traditional commentators disagree about this tension. Changing it makes Wind below Fire, Hexagram 50; the cauldron adds another image of something prepared for use.

貞吉，悔亡。震用伐鬼方，三年有賞于大國。

Constancy is favorable; regret disappears. Mobilize to attack the Guifang; after three years, rewards come from the great state.

Line 4 calls for vigorous effort in the campaign against the Guifang and places reward after three years. Changing it makes Mountain above Water, Hexagram 4. Sustained effort and incomplete understanding provide the comparison.

貞吉，无悔。君子之光，有孚，吉。

Constancy is favorable, without regret. The exemplary person's light. Trust is present. Favorable.

Constancy, trust, and the exemplary person’s light give Line 5 a favorable character. Its change makes Heaven above Water, Hexagram 6. The contrast with contention raises a different context for considering sincerity and clarity.

有孚于飲酒，无咎。濡其首，有孚失是。

Drinking wine with confidence. No fault. But if the head is drenched, that confidence loses its proper measure.

Confidence permits drinking in Line 6, but a drenched head marks confidence carried beyond its proper measure. Its change makes Thunder above Water, Hexagram 40. Release offers a contrast with the excess described here.