改邑不改井,无丧无得,往来井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶,凶。
(Looking at) Žing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.
井,以不变为德者也。 德有常也。 不渝变也。 井道以巳出为功也。几至而覆,与未汲同也。
《井》,《序卦》:「困乎上者必反下,故受之以井。」承上「升而不已必困」为言,谓上升不已而困,则必反于下也。物之在下者莫如井,井所以次困也。为卦,坎上巽下。坎,水也,巽之象则木也,巽之义则入也。木,器之象。木入于水下而上乎水,汲井之象也。 井之为物,常而不可改也。邑可改而之他,井不可迁也,故曰改邑不改井。汲之而不竭,存之而不盈,无丧无得也。至者皆得其用,往来井井也。无丧无得,其德也常;往来井井,其用也周。常也,周也,井之道也。 汔,几也。繘,绠也。井以济用为功,几至而未及用,亦与未下繘于井同也。君子之道,贵乎有成,所以五谷不熟,不如荑稗;掘井九仞而不及泉,犹为弃井。有济物之用,而未及物,犹无有也。羸败其瓶而失之,其用丧矣,是以凶也。羸,毁败也。
正义曰:「井」者,物象之名也。古者穿地取水,以瓶引汲,谓之为井。此卦明君子修德养民,有常不变,终始无改,养物不穷,莫过乎井,故以修德之卦取譬名之「井」焉。「改邑不改井」者,以下明「井」有常德,此明「井」体有常,邑虽迁移而「井体」无改,故云「改邑不改井」也。 正义曰:此明井用有常德,终日引汲,未尝言损;终日泉注,未尝言益,故曰「无丧无得」也。 正义曰:此明性常。「井井」,絜静之貌也。往者来者,皆使洁静,不以人有往来,改其洗濯之性,故曰「往来井井」也。 正义曰:此下明井诫,言井功难成也。汔,几也。几,近也。繘,绠也。虽汲水以至井上,然绠出犹未离井口,而钩羸其瓶而覆之也。弃其方成之功,虽有出井之劳,而与未汲不异,喻今人行常德,须善始令终。若有初无终,则必致凶咎,故曰「汔至亦未繘井,羸其瓶,凶」。言「亦」者,不必之辞,言不必有如此不克终者。计获一瓶之水,何足言凶?以喻人之修德不成,又云但取喻人之德行不恒,不能慎终如始,故就人言凶也。