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James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
Hwan intimates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and success. The king goes to his ancestral temple; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Hwan is wind moving over water — the picture of a thing falling apart. But read what the oracle does with the breaking: the king goes to his ancestral temple, where the scattered minds are gathered into one; and then he crosses the great stream, which no divided household could cross. Dispersion here is not the disaster; it is the operation. What must scatter is what was never meant to hold — the suspicion between people, the factions in the state, the grain hoarded while others stood outside. Scatter those loudly — the great announcements issued, the royal granaries opened. What gathers afterwards gathers for good. Be firm and correct: what fell apart comes back as something chosen.
Line 1
The first line, divided, shows its subject engaged in rescuing (from the impending evil) and having (the assistance of) a strong horse. There will be good fortune.
Line 2
The second line, undivided, shows its subject, amid the dispersion, hurrying to his contrivance (for security). All occasion for repentance will disappear.
Line 3
The third line, divided, shows its subject discarding any regard to his own person. There will be no occasion for repentance.
Line 4
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject scattering the (different) parties (in the state); which leads to great good fortune. From the dispersion (he collects again good men standing out, a crowd) like a mound, which is what ordinary men would not have thought of.
Line 5
The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject amidst the dispersion issuing his great announcements as the perspiration (flows from his body). He scatters abroad (also) the accumulations in the royal granaries. There will be no error.
Line 6
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject disposing of (what may be called) its bloody wounds, and going and separating himself from its anxious fears. There will be no error.