18. 蠱 Decay (Work on What Has Been Spoiled)

蠱：元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。

Gǔ: Yuán hēng, lì shè dà chuān. Xiān jiǎ sān rì, hòu jiǎ sān rì.

Supreme success. Favorable to cross the great river. Three days before the starting day, three days after.

蠱：元亨，利涉大川。先甲三日，後甲三日。

初六：幹父之蠱，有子，考无咎，厲終吉。

Chū liù: Gàn fù zhī gǔ, yǒu zi, kǎo wú jiù, lì zhōng jí.

First line: Setting right what the father spoiled. With such a son, the late father is without blame. Danger, but good fortune in the end.

初六：幹父之蠱，有子，考无咎，厲終吉。

九二：幹母之蠱，不可貞。

Jiǔ èr: Gàn mǔ zhī gǔ, bù kě zhēn.

Second line: Setting right what the mother spoiled. One cannot be too rigid.

九二：幹母之蠱，不可貞。

九三：幹父之蠱，小有悔，无大咎。

Jiǔ sān: Gàn fù zhī gǔ, xiǎo yǒu huǐ, wú dà jiù.

Third line: Setting right what the father spoiled. Small regret, no great blame.

九三：幹父之蠱，小有悔，无大咎。

六四：裕父之蠱，往見吝。

Liù sì: Yù fù zhī gǔ, wǎng jiàn lìn.

Fourth line: Tolerating what the father spoiled. Going on brings humiliation.

六四：裕父之蠱，往見吝。

六五：幹父之蠱，用譽。

Liù wǔ: Gàn fù zhī gǔ, yòng yù.

Fifth line: Setting right what the father spoiled. One gains praise.

六五：幹父之蠱，用譽。

上九：不事王侯，高尚其事。

Shàng jiǔ: Bù shì wáng hóu, gāo shàng qí shì.

Top line: He does not serve kings and lords; he holds his own aims higher.

上九：不事王侯，高尚其事。