What this hexagram is about
Wind moving over the lake, the heart sincere within — the image of inner truth. By utmost sincerity one reaches the hearts of others, until even pigs and fishes are moved; sincere within and trusted without — this is the root of dealing with the world.
The Judgment 卦辞
中孚，豚鱼吉，利涉大川，利贞。
Even pigs and fishes — good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river. Favorable to persevere.
The Image 大象传
《象》曰：泽上有风，中孚；君子以议狱缓死。
Wind over the lake, inner truth; so the noble person deliberates trials and stays the death sentence.
Commentary on the Lines 小象传
初九虞吉，志未变也。
Prepared and steady, good fortune at the start — the will has not yet changed.
The Six Lines (hover over the figure above)
Six at the top翰音登于天，贞凶。
Only the crowing voice mounting high, an empty name reaching to the heavens — flourish without substance, the faith too thin and the sound too loud; to keep to this brings misfortune.
Nine in the fifth place有孚挛如，无咎。
Holding sincerity in the heart and bound fast to one another — utmost good faith joining high and low — there is no fault.
Nine in the fourth place月几望，马匹亡，无咎。
The moon near full but not yet full; one of the carriage horses is lost — cutting off the private mate, single-hearted toward what is above — there is no fault.
Nine in the third place得敌，或鼓或罢，或泣或歌。
One meets an adversary — no firm master within, shifting with each thing: now beating the drum to advance, now worn out and giving up, now weeping, now breaking into song — moods without constancy, faith not from the heart.
Nine in the second place鸣鹤在阴，其子和之，我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。
A crane calls in the shade of the tree, and its kind answer back in echo; I have a goblet of fine wine — let me share it with you — sincerity stirring sincerity, like answering like.
Initial Six虞吉，有它不燕。
To rest in good faith, single and self-possessed, brings good fortune; but to be of two minds, with some hidden design, is to find no peace.