Hexagram 5 · ䷄

Waiting

需 · Xū

Upper Water 坎Lower Heaven 乾

The Judgment · 卦辭

有孚，光亨。貞吉，利涉大川。

Hsü intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.

The Image · 大象

雲上於天，需；君子以飲食宴樂。

(The trigram for) clouds ascending over that for the sky forms Hsü. The superior man, in accordance with this, eats and drinks, feasts and enjoys himself (as if there were nothing else to employ him).

Plain-English Meaning

A time of waiting with confidence. What you need is coming; prepare and keep your inner calm.

The Judgment

Sincere, patient waiting brings success; it is a good time to face a great challenge.

The Image

Like clouds gathering in the sky before rain, nourish yourself and stay at ease while you wait.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初九 · Line 1
需于郊，利用恆，无咎。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error.
象曰：需于郊，不犯難行也。利用恆，无咎，未失常也。
九二 · Line 2
需于沙，小有言，終吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand (of the mountain stream). He will (suffer) the small (injury of) being spoken (against), but in the end there will be good fortune.
象曰：需于沙，衍在中也。雖小有言，以吉終也。
九三 · Line 3
需于泥，致寇至。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury.
象曰：需于泥，災在外也。自我致寇，敬慎不敗也。
六四 · Line 4
需于血，出自穴。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject waiting in (the place of) blood. But he will get out of the cavern.
象曰：需于血，順以聽也。
九五 · Line 5
需于酒食，貞吉。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
象曰：酒食，貞吉，以中正也。
上六 · Line 6
入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.
象曰：不速之客來，敬之終吉。雖不當位，未大失也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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