The judgment
訟：有孚，窒。 惕中吉。 終凶。 利見大人，不利涉大川。
There is sincerity, but it is blocked. Caution in the middle brings good fortune; going all the way brings misfortune. It helps to see a good judge; it does not help to cross the great water.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex06.judgment.
The image
象曰：天與水違行，訟。君子以作事謀始。
Sky and water move apart: conflict. A capable person plans the beginning carefully, so disputes do not start.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex06.image.
Win the argument before it starts, or stop before it becomes a case.
The six lines
Each line is a stage, from the bottom of the hexagram to the top. Open any line to read it in plain English.
初六 不永所事，小有言，終吉。 Do not drag the matter out. There is some talk, but it ends well if you drop it early.
Do not drag the matter out. There is some talk, but it ends well if you drop it early.
九二 不克訟，歸而逋，其邑人三百戶，無眚。 You cannot win this dispute. Go home and withdraw; even a small town of three hundred households stays out of trouble.
You cannot win this dispute. Go home and withdraw; even a small town of three hundred households stays out of trouble.
六三 食舊德，貞厲，終吉，或從王事，無成。 Live on old merit. Stay true and accept the danger; it ends well. If you serve a larger cause, do not expect credit.
Live on old merit. Stay true and accept the danger; it ends well. If you serve a larger cause, do not expect credit.
九四 不克訟，復自命，渝安貞，吉。 You cannot win, so you turn back and change your position. Accept the quieter path and it is lucky.
You cannot win, so you turn back and change your position. Accept the quieter path and it is lucky.
九五 訟元吉。 The dispute is heard by someone fair, and it is settled well. This is the best outcome: a real judgment, not a win.
The dispute is heard by someone fair, and it is settled well. This is the best outcome: a real judgment, not a win.
上九 或錫之鞶帶，終朝三褫之。 You are given a fine belt, and before the morning is over it is taken away three times. A prize won by conflict does not stay on.
You are given a fine belt, and before the morning is over it is taken away three times. A prize won by conflict does not stay on.