未济 · 未定
Judgement
亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。
Success. The small fox nearly crosses; its tail gets wet. Nothing furthers.
The Image
火在水上，未济。君子以慎辨物居方。
Above fire, below water: before completion. So the superior man carefully distinguishes things and keeps each in its place.
The Lines
濡其尾，吝。
His tail gets wet; pitiable.
“濡其尾”，亦不知极也。
His tail gets wet: he also does not know the limit.
曳其轮，贞吉。
He drags his wheels; steadfastness is auspicious.
九二“贞吉”，中以行正也。
The second’s steadfastness is auspicious: the middle walks straight.
未济，征凶，利涉大川。
Before completion; going is ill. It furthers to cross the great water.
“未济，征凶”，位不当也。
Before completion, going is ill: the place is not right.
贞吉，悔亡；震用伐鬼方，三年有赏于大国。
Steadfastness is auspicious, regret passes. He uses shock to attack the Ghostland; three years he is rewarded by the great state.
“贞吉，悔亡”，志行也。
Steadfastness is auspicious, regret passes: his will walks.
贞吉，无悔；君子之光，有孚，吉。
Steadfastness is auspicious, no regret. The superior man’s light; with sincerity, good fortune.
“君子之光”，其晖“吉”也。
The superior man’s light: its radiance is auspicious.
有孚于饮酒；无咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
With sincerity he drinks wine; no blame. If his head is wetted, the sincerity is lost.
“饮酒”濡首，亦不知节也。
Drinking and wetting the head: he also does not know the limit.
Reading
火在水上，釜还未安：样样都差一点。末卦拒绝收尾——经文说小狐濡尾，意思是渡得太急。全书收在一件未完成的事上，而这正是一切活物的如实状态。