8. 比 Union (Closeness / Alliance)

比：吉。原筮元永貞，无咎。不寧方來，後夫凶。

Bǐ: Jí. Yuán shì yuán yǒng zhēn, wú jiù. Bù níng fāng lái, hòu fū xiōng.

Good fortune. Divine again: supreme, lasting perseverance; no blame. The restless come from all sides; the latecomer meets misfortune.

比：吉。原筮元永貞，无咎。不寧方來，後夫凶。

初六：有孚，比之，无咎。有孚盈缶，終來有它吉。

Chū liù: Yǒu fú, bǐ zhī, wú jiù. Yǒu fú yíng fǒu, zhōng lái yǒu tā jí.

First line: Holding to him in sincerity: no blame. Sincerity fills the earthen bowl; in the end other good fortune comes.

初六：有孚，比之，无咎。有孚盈缶，終來有它吉。

六二：比之自內，貞吉。

Liù èr: Bǐ zhī zì nèi, zhēn jí.

Second line: Holding to him from within. Perseverance brings good fortune.

六二：比之自內，貞吉。

六三：比之匪人。

Liù sān: Bǐ zhī fěi rén.

Third line: Holding to the wrong people.

六三：比之匪人。

六四：外比之，貞吉。

Liù sì: Wài bǐ zhī, zhēn jí.

Fourth line: Holding to him from outside. Perseverance brings good fortune.

六四：外比之，貞吉。

九五：顯比，王用三驅，失前禽。邑人不誡，吉。

Jiǔ wǔ: Xiǎn bǐ, wáng yòng sān qū, shī qián qín. Yì rén bù jiè, jí.

Fifth line: Open union. The king hunts on three sides and lets the game ahead escape. The townspeople need no warning. Good fortune.

九五：顯比，王用三驅，失前禽。邑人不誡，吉。

上六：比之无首，凶。

Shàng liù: Bǐ zhī wú shǒu, xiōng.

Top line: Union without a head. Misfortune.

上六：比之无首，凶。