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James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
Lî (suggests the idea of) one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
Lî is conduct: one treading on the tail of a tiger — and the tiger does not bite. The oracle grants progress and success to the step, not the boldness. Tread your accustomed path; go forward without error. Keep to the level and easy path, the quiet, solitary course; firmness there is fortunate. The one-eyed man who thinks he sees and the lame man who thinks he walks are bitten, and a mere bravo playing the great ruler ends in ill fortune. Tread the tiger's tail with apprehensive caution, and the end is good fortune. The resolute tread carries its own peril. Before the end, look back over the whole course trodden: complete and without failure, great good fortune.
Line 1
The first line, undivided, shows its subject treading his accustomed path. If he go forward, there will be no error.
Line 2
The second line, undivided, shows its subject treading the path that is level and easy;—a quiet and solitary man, to whom, if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune.
Line 3
The third line, divided, shows a one-eyed man (who thinks he) can see; a lame man (who thinks he) can walk well; one who treads on the tail of a tiger and is bitten. (All this indicates) ill fortune. We have a (mere) bravo acting the part of a great ruler.
Line 4
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject treading on the tail of a tiger. He becomes full of apprehensive caution, and in the end there will be good fortune.
Line 5
The fifth line, undivided, shows the resolute tread of its subject. Though he be firm and correct, there will be peril.
Line 6
The sixth line, undivided, tells us to look at (the whole course) that is trodden, and examine the presage which that gives. If it be complete and without failure, there will be great good fortune.