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James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
In (the state denoted by) Ts'ui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
Ts'ui — waters gathering on the earth — is union, and the oracle names its conditions. The king repairs to his ancestral temple: what is gathered must gather around a centre, in reverence. Meet with the great man; let the advantage come through firm correctness; offer the great victims, and fortune follows in whatever direction you move. Union is not a crowd. The first cry out and find tears turning to smiles; the third sigh until they go forward; the topmost weeps and errs not. Under the ruler in the place of dignity, if any lack confidence in you, make your virtue great, long-continued, and firmly correct — then all occasion for repentance disappears. Gather with sincerity, or do not gather.
Line 1
The first line, divided, shows its subject with a sincere desire (for union), but unable to carry it out, so that disorder is brought into the sphere of his union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), all at once (his tears) will give place to smiles. He need not mind (the temporary difficulty); as he goes forward, there will be no error.
Line 2
The second line, divided, shows its subject led forward (by his correlate). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and in that case (even the small offerings of) the vernal sacrifice are acceptable.
Line 3
The third line, divided, shows its subject striving after union and seeming to sigh, yet nowhere finding any advantage. If he go forward, he will not err, though there may be some small cause for regret.
Line 4
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in such a state that, if he be greatly fortunate, he will receive no blame.
Line 5
The fifth line, undivided, shows the union (of all) under its subject in the place of dignity. There will be no error. If any do not have confidence in him, let him see to it that (his virtue) be great, long-continued, and firmly correct, and all occasion for repentance will disappear.
Line 6
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; but there will be no error.