Hexagram 40 · Line 3
Deliverance — 三九
Xie · San Jiu
The Line
If one carries a burden on one's back and yet rides on the wagon, one thereby causes robbers to come near. Perseverance leads to humiliation.
Interpretation
A person has emerged from poor conditions into a comfortable situation, having been freed from distress. If they now, in the manner of an upstart, want to make themself comfortable without in their being suiting the comfortable conditions, they thereby attract robbers; and if they continue thus, they will certainly come into disgrace. Confucius says of this: "To carry a burden on one's back is the business of a lowly person. A wagon is the equipment of a noble man. When, now, a lowly person uses the equipment of a noble man, the robbers think of taking it from them. When one is insolent toward those above and harsh toward those below, the robbers think of attacking them. Careless storage tempts the robbers to steal. Lavish ornament on a girl entices to the robbing of her virtue."