第21卦 · 火雷噬嗑

亨。利用狱。
噬嗑象征咬穿障碍、严刑明法。通达。利于断狱用刑。如上下齿间有异物，须咬断方能合拢——清除障碍才能畅通。
初九 屦校灭趾，无咎。
六二 噬肤灭鼻，无咎。
六三 噬腊肉，遇毒，小吝，无咎。
九四 噬干胏，得金矢，利艰贞，吉。
六五 噬干肉，得黄金，贞厉，无咎。
上九 何校灭耳，凶。

亨。利用狱。
Decisively cutting through the obstacle leads to success, and favors putting fair judgment into practice.
Initial Nine: Feet locked in the stocks, toes out of sight — a small, sharp punishment early on. No blame in this; it stops something worse.
Six in the second: Biting straight through soft flesh, deep enough to bury the nose — a punishment applied to an easy case, perhaps more forceful than needed, yet still no blame.
Six in the third: Biting into tough, dried meat and striking something spoiled within it — a minor setback, but nothing to be blamed for.
Nine in the fourth: Biting through dried meat still attached to bone, and finding a bronze arrowhead lodged inside — it pays to stay mindful of the difficulty and hold firm. Good fortune.
Six in the fifth: Biting through dried, lean meat and finding gold within — holding to the right course despite real risk, and coming through without blame.
Nine at the top: A heavy wooden collar locked around the neck, covering the ears entirely — misfortune, the result of ignoring every earlier warning.