改邑不改井,无喪无得,往來井井。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,以不變為德者也。 德有常也。 不渝變也。 井道以巳出為功也。幾至而覆,與未汲同也。
《井》,《序卦》:「困乎上者必反下,故受之以井。」承上「升而不已必困」為言,謂上升不已而困,則必反於下也。物之在下者莫如井,井所以次困也。為卦,坎上巽下。坎,水也,巽之象則木也,巽之義則入也。木,器之象。木入於水下而上乎水,汲井之象也。 井之為物,常而不可改也。邑可改而之他,井不可遷也,故曰改邑不改井。汲之而不竭,存之而不盈,無喪無得也。至者皆得其用,往來井井也。無喪無得,其德也常;往來井井,其用也周。常也,周也,井之道也。 汔,幾也。繘,綆也。井以濟用為功,幾至而未及用,亦與未下繘於井同也。君子之道,貴乎有成,所以五穀不熟,不如荑稗;掘井九仞而不及泉,猶為棄井。有濟物之用,而未及物,猶無有也。羸敗其瓶而失之,其用喪矣,是以凶也。羸,毀敗也。
正義曰:「井」者,物象之名也。古者穿地取水,以瓶引汲,謂之為井。此卦明君子脩德養民,有常不變,終始無改,養物不窮,莫過乎井,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」體有常,邑雖遷移而「井體」無改,故云「改邑不改井」也。 正義曰:此明井用有常德,終日引汲,未嘗言損;終日泉注,未嘗言益,故曰「無喪無得」也。 正義曰:此明性常。「井井」,絜靜之貌也。往者來者,皆使潔靜,不以人有往來,改其洗濯之性,故曰「往來井井」也。 正義曰:此下明井誡,言井功難成也。汔,幾也。幾,近也。繘,綆也。雖汲水以至井上,然綆出猶未離井口,而鉤羸其瓶而覆之也。棄其方成之功,雖有出井之勞,而與未汲不異,喻今人行常德,須善始令終。若有初無終,則必致凶咎,故曰「汔至亦未繘井,羸其瓶,凶」。言「亦」者,不必之辭,言不必有如此不克終者。計獲一瓶之水,何足言凶?以喻人之修德不成,又云但取喻人之德行不恒,不能慎終如始,故就人言凶也。