节 · 制
Judgement
亨，苦节，不可贞。
Success. Bitter limitation cannot be held steadfast.
The Image
泽上有水，节。君子以制数度，议德行。
Above the lake, water: limitation. So the superior man sets the measure of virtue and conduct.
The Lines
不出户庭，无咎。
Not going out of his door and courtyard; no blame.
“不出户庭”，知通塞也。
Not going out of his door and courtyard: he knows when passage and blockage come.
不出门庭，凶。
Not going out of his gate and courtyard; ill.
“不出门庭，凶”，失时极也。
Not going out of his gate and courtyard; ill: he loses the moment’s extreme.
不节若，则嗟若，无咎。
If he does not limit himself, then he sighs; no blame.
“不节”之“嗟”，又谁“咎”也？
The sigh of not limiting himself: who else is to blame?
安节，亨。
Peaceful limitation; success.
“安节”之“亨”，承上道也。
The success of peaceful limitation: he carries the way of those above.
甘节，吉。往有尚。
Sweet limitation; good fortune. To go is honoured.
“甘节”之“吉”，居位中也。
The good fortune of sweet limitation: his place is in the middle.
苦节，贞凶，悔亡。
Bitter limitation; steadfastness is ill; regret passes.
“苦节，贞凶”，其道穷也。
Bitter limitation, steadfastness ill: his way is exhausted.
Reading
泽有其限，而正因有限，才盛得住水。制不是匮乏，是形——经文数它、限它、量它，而发现苦只出自不被接受的限。不被接受的限，照样会被强制执行。