甚至是那些沒有生命卻能發出聲音的東西，例如笛子或豎琴，如果發出的音調沒有分別，怎麼能使人知道所吹所彈的是什麼呢？

就是那有声无气的物，或箫，或琴，若发出来的声音没有分别，怎能知道所吹所弹的是什么呢？

就连那有声而没有生命的东西，如箫，如琴，发出来的音若没有分别，怎能知道所吹所弹的是什么呢？

就连那有声而没有生命的东西，如箫，如琴，发出来的音若没有分别，怎能知道所吹所弹的是什么呢？

就连没有生命的箫和琴，如果发出的声音杂乱无章，谁能知道所吹所弹的是什么曲子呢？

甚至那些没有生命却能发声的东西，例如箫或琴，如果音调不分，怎能使人知道所弹所奏的是什么呢？

甚至是那些没有生命却能发出声音的东西，例如笛子或竖琴，如果发出的音调没有分别，怎么能使人知道所吹所弹的是什么呢？

就是那有聲無氣的物，或簫，或琴，若發出來的聲音沒有分別，怎能知道所吹所彈的是甚麼呢？

就連那有聲而沒有生命的東西，如簫，如琴，發出來的音若沒有分別，怎能知道所吹所彈的是甚麼呢？

就連那有聲而沒有生命的東西，如簫，如琴，發出來的音若沒有分別，怎能知道所吹所彈的是甚麼呢？

就連沒有生命的簫和琴，如果發出的聲音雜亂無章，誰能知道所吹所彈的是什麼曲子呢？

甚至那些沒有生命卻能發聲的東西，例如簫或琴，如果音調不分，怎能使人知道所彈所奏的是甚麼呢？

就是那些無生氣之物、或簫笛或絃琴、也能發出聲音呀；但若在音響中不表出音程的區別來，所吹所彈的怎能使人明白呢？

夫有聲無氣之物、如簫如琴、使不正其音、焉知所鼓吹者何歟、

夫有聲無氣之物、如簫如琴、不正其音、焉知鼓吹者何與、

夫有聲無氣之物、如簫如琴、發音不別、焉知所吹所鼓者何也、

今夫簫與琴者、無生之物也；其聲律猶須釐然而不相混、不然將無以成音調。

Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played.

If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds— whether flute or harp— if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Even inanimate things that produce sounds— whether flute or harp— if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

他們就好比：孩子們坐在街市上，彼此呼叫，說：『我們為你們吹笛，你們卻不跳舞；我們唱哀歌，你們也不哭泣。』

說：『我們為你們吹笛，你們卻不跳舞；我們唱哀歌，你們也不捶胸。』

實際上，如果號角發出的聲音真的不清楚，誰會準備好出戰呢？

如果我能說人間和天使的各種殊言，卻沒有愛，我就成了嘈雜的鑼、鳴響的鈸；