What this hexagram is about
A mountain within the earth, low without and high within — the most serene of all the sixty-four, its every line auspicious. The greater one's strength, the lower one should hold oneself; modesty profits, and the one who stays humble to the end is sure to meet a good outcome.
The Judgment 卦辞
亨，君子有终。
Success. The noble person carries it through to the end.
The Image 大象传
《象》曰：地中有山，谦。君子以裒多益寡，称物平施。
A mountain hidden within the earth; so the noble person takes from the abundant to add to the scant, weighing things to give in fair measure.
Commentary on the Lines 小象传
谦谦君子，卑以自牧也。
The humble, modest noble person — lowly, he keeps himself in check.
The Six Lines (hover over the figure above)
Six at the top鸣谦，利用行师，征邑国。
Modesty renowned in one's name; it is fitting to send forth the troops to bring to order the towns that will not submit.
Six in the fifth place不富以其邻，利用侵伐，无不利。
Without leaning on wealth one draws the neighbors near; and when it must be done, even to march to war is in no way unfavorable — for modesty is not weakness, and one acts when action is right.
Six in the fourth place无不利，撝谦。
Nothing that is not favorable: one puts the virtue of modesty fully into practice.
Six in the third place劳谦，君子有终，吉。
Diligent and yet modest; the noble person carries it through from start to finish — good fortune.
Six in the second place鸣谦，贞吉。
Modesty that shows in one's good name — humility matched by substance; hold to what is right, and there is good fortune.
Initial Nine谦谦君子，用涉大川，吉。
The noble person, modest and modest again, crosses the great river and its perils by this very virtue — good fortune.