Oppression困

In plain words

The situation: You are hemmed in, and your words carry no weight.

What you can do: Say less, hold firm and see this through.

For culture and reflection only. Our own plain summary, not a translation.

The six lines

1. 上六困于葛藟，于臲卼，曰動悔。有悔，征吉。Trapped by creeping vines, shaky and unsure. You say: moving brings regret. Feel that regret and going forward brings good fortune.In shortTangled and unsteady, you fear moving; accept past regret, then act, and it goes well.
2. 九五劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。Nose and feet cut, trapped by the red-sashed lord. Slowly there is relief. It helps to make offerings.In shortPressed from above and below, things loosen slowly; meet it with sincerity.
3. 九四來徐徐，困于金車，吝，有終。Coming slowly, trapped in a metal carriage. Regret, but there is an end.In shortHelp arrives slowly and you feel stuck, but in the end it works out.
4. 六三困于石，據于蒺藜，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。Trapped by stone, leaning on thorns. You enter your house and do not see your wife. Misfortune.In shortYou hit walls and lean on what hurts; even home feels empty, so be careful.
5. 九二困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用享祀，征凶，无咎。Trapped in wine and food. The red-sashed lord is coming. It helps to make offerings. Going on brings misfortune. No fault.In shortStuck amid comforts, an opening comes; act sincerely, rushing ahead goes badly, but no great fault.
6. 初六臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。Buttocks stuck on a bare tree stump. You enter a dark valley and for three years see no one.In shortStuck low with no way out in sight; be ready for a long wait.