食舊德, 貞厲 終吉, 或從王事, 无成.
Shi 食: to ‘eat it’ – to speak about it but not putting it into practice (謂言已出而反吞之，不實行).
Jiude 舊德: the virtues and good deeds of the former kings and ancestors.
食舊德 therefore means to talk about the virtues of the ancestors but not putting them into practice. Without the proper conduct based on the teachings of the ancient ones the divination (zhen 貞) will be dangerous (li 厲). The outcome will be auspicious (ji 吉), but in royal assignments there will be no accomplishments (see also hexagram 2, line 3), as you do not have the full support of the forefathers .
Talking about old virtues but not practising them.
To divine will be dangerous.
In the end auspicious.
There is participation in royal affairs,
But no accomplishments.