未濟weiji
Before Completion
See also: Wilhelm commentary for Hexagram 64
Hexagram Statement
卦辭
正義曰：「未濟，亨」者，未濟者未能濟渡之名也。未濟之時，小才居位，不能建功立德，拔難濟險。若能執柔用中，委任賢哲，則未濟有可濟之理，所以得通，故曰「未濟，亨」。「小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利」者，汔者，將盡之名。小才不能濟難，事同小狐雖能渡水，而无餘力，必須水汔，方可涉川。未及登岸，而濡其尾，濟不免濡，豈有所利？故曰「小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利」也。
The Correct Meaning states: 'Not Yet Across, Success'—'Not Yet Across' is the name for not yet being able to cross over. In the time of Not Yet Across, those of small ability occupy positions and cannot establish merit or build virtue, nor can they rescue from difficulty or ford through danger.
Yet if one can hold to yielding and employ the center, entrusting affairs to the worthy and wise, then within Not Yet Across there is the principle of being able to cross, and therefore one attains success.
' One of small ability cannot ford through difficulty; the situation is like a small fox that, though able to cross the water, has no strength to spare and must wait until the water is nearly gone before it can wade across the stream.
Before reaching the bank, it wets its tail; since crossing cannot avoid getting wet, how could there be any benefit? '
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏