情動於中，而形於聲。
When feelings stir within, they take form in sounds; and, when sounds assume ordered form, they are called tones.
聲成文，謂之音。
Thus, tones produced in well-ordered eras are peaceful and joyous, for government in such times is harmonious; however, tones produced in times of chaos are resentful and angry, for government in such times is discordant.
是故治世之音安以樂，其政和；亂世之音怨以怒，其政乖；亡國之音哀以思，其民困。
Music of states that are perishing is sorrowful and melancholy, for its people are in desperate straits.
聲音之道，與政通矣。
The way of music is analogous to that of government.
Gong105 stands for the ruler; shang stands for the court officer; jiao stands for the people; zhi stands for affairs; and yu stands for material things.
宮為君，商為臣，角為民，徵為事，羽為物。
When the five tones are out of order, then they obey no law.
五音亂則無法。
As for unlawful sounds, when the gong tone is out of order, it will occur randomly; this is like a ruler being arrogant.
無法之音：宮亂則荒，其君驕；商亂則陂，其官壞；角亂則憂，其民怨；徵亂則哀，其事勤，羽亂則危，其財匱。
When the shang tone is out of order, it will be sloping; this is like court officers behaving badly.
五者亂，代相凌，謂之慢。
When the jiao tone is out of order, it will be sorrowful; this is like the people being resentful.
When the zhi tone is out of order, it will be wailing; this is like affairs being toilsome.
如此則國之滅亡無日矣。
When the yu tone is out of order, it will be tottering; this is like goods being exhausted.
鄭衛之音，亂世之音也，比於慢矣。
When all five tones are out of order and interfere with each other by turns, it is called “recklessly abandoned.” When matters reach this pass, the destruction of the state will be merely a matter of days.
桑間濮上之音，亡國之音也。
The airs of Zheng and Wei are the music of a disordered age and may be considered examples of this reckless abandonment.
其政散，其民流，誣上行私，而不可止也。
Songs about trysts in mulberry groves by the Pu River107 are the music of states going down to destruction. The governments of such states are in disarray and their people dispersed.
People deceive their superiors while pursuing illicit aims, and nothing can be done to stop it.