平公問於師曠曰：「石何故言？
Lord Ping consulted with Musicmaster Kuang120 about the matter, saying, “Why is the stone doing this?” “Stones cannot speak” was the reply; “there is a spirit attached to it.
」對曰：「石不能言，有神馮焉。
Or else it is just that people have misinterpreted the sounds.
不然，民聽之濫也。
Your servant has heard that, when projects are pursued out of season, resentment and slander arise among the people, and, in that case, things without speech may start to speak.
臣聞之，作事不時，怨讟動於民，則有非言之物而言。
In this case a tall, luxurious dwelling is being constructed; the people’s strength is near exhaustion; and the many clan chiefs are full of resentment and are unable to calm them.
今宮室崇侈，民力屈盡，百姓疾怨，莫安其性。
石言不亦可乎？」
Is it not possible that a stone might start to talk?” Musicmaster Kuang Foresees the Death of Lord Ping of Jin