Thank you. Fellow citizens: For 8 years, it has been my honor to serve as your President. The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence, a time set apart. Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey that we have traveled together and the future of our Nation. 谢谢大家。各位公民：八年来，我有幸担任你们的总统。新世纪的第一个十年是一个重要的时期，一个与众不同的时代。今晚，怀着感激之心，我请求最后一次机会，分享一些关于我们共同走过的旅程和国家未来的思考。
Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of American democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the Presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole Nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President-elect Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls. 五天后，世界将见证美国民主的活力。在我们建国以来的传统中，总统职位将移交给由你们——美国人民——选出的继任者。站在国会大厦台阶上的将是一位其历史反映了我们国家永恒承诺的人。这是我们整个国家充满希望和自豪的时刻。我与所有美国人一起，向当选总统奥巴马、他的妻子米歇尔以及他们两个可爱的女儿致以最美好的祝愿。
Tonight I am filled with gratitude to Vice President Cheney and members of my administration; to Laura, who brought joy to this house and love to my life; to our wonderful daughters Barbara and Jenna; to my parents, whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime. And above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have given me. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity, and grace that I have witnessed these past 8 years. 今晚，我满怀感激之情，感谢副总统切尼和我的政府成员；感谢劳拉，她为这座白宫带来了欢乐，为我的生命带来了爱；感谢我们出色的女儿芭芭拉和珍娜；感谢我的父母，他们的榜样为我一生提供了力量。最重要的是，我感谢美国人民给予我的信任。感谢你们的祈祷，它们提升了我的精神。感谢你们在过去八年中展现的无数勇气、慷慨和优雅的行为。
This evening my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house, September the 11th, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor. I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center 3 days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke-filled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93. I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge. 今晚，我的思绪回到了我第一次在白宫向你们发表讲话的那个夜晚——2001年9月11日。那天早上，恐怖分子夺走了近3000人的生命，这是自珍珠港事件以来美国遭受的最严重袭击。我记得三天后站在世贸中心的废墟中，周围是日夜工作的救援人员。我记得与那些冲过五角大楼烟雾弥漫走廊的勇敢灵魂交谈，与那些在93号航班上成为英雄的人们的丈夫和妻子交谈。我记得艾琳·霍华德，她把她遇难儿子的警察盾牌送给我，以提醒我们所失去的一切。我至今仍带着他的徽章。
As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our Nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe. 岁月流逝，大多数美国人能够恢复到9·11之前的生活状态。但我从未如此。每天早上，我都会收到关于国家面临威胁的简报。我发誓要尽我所能保护我们的安全。
Over the past 7 years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our Nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists' movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored Al Qaida and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school. Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States. 在过去七年里，一个新的国土安全部成立了。军队、情报界和联邦调查局都进行了改革。我们国家配备了新的工具来监控恐怖分子的动向、冻结他们的资金并粉碎他们的阴谋。在强大盟友的支持下，我们将战斗带到了恐怖分子及其支持者面前。阿富汗从一个塔利班庇护基地组织、妇女在街上被石刑处决的国家，变成了一个打击恐怖主义、鼓励女孩上学的年轻民主国家。伊拉克从一个残酷的独裁政权和美国的死敌，变成了中东心脏地带的阿拉伯民主国家和美国的朋友。
There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions, but there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than 7 years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil night and day to keep us safe: law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. 对于这些决定中的许多，存在合理的辩论，但结果几乎没有争议。美国已经七年多没有再遭受本土恐怖袭击。这要归功于那些日夜辛劳保护我们安全的人们：执法官员、情报分析师、国土安全和外交人员，以及美国武装部队的男女士兵。
Our Nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defend us in this time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selfless patriots and their families. And America owes you a debt of gratitude. And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight: There has been no higher honor than serving as your Commander in Chief. 我们国家很幸运拥有在这个危险时刻自愿保卫我们的公民。我珍视与这些无私爱国者及其家人的会面。美国欠你们一份感激之情。致今晚所有聆听的军人：没有比担任你们的总司令更高的荣誉了。
The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader struggle between two dramatically different systems. Under one, a small band of fanatics demands total obedience to an oppressive ideology, condemns women to subservience, and marks unbelievers for murder. The other system is based on the conviction that freedom is the universal gift of Almighty God, and that liberty and justice light the path to peace. 我们军队进行的战斗是两个截然不同制度之间更广泛斗争的一部分。在一个制度下，一小撮狂热分子要求完全服从一种压迫性的意识形态，将妇女置于从属地位，并标记不信者为谋杀目标。另一个制度基于这样的信念：自由是全能上帝赐予全人类的礼物，自由与正义照亮通往和平的道路。
This is the belief that gave birth to our Nation. And in the long run, advancing this belief is the only practical way to protect our citizens. When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not cede their lives to violence and extremism. So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity. We're standing with dissidents and young democracies, providing AIDS medicine to dying patients—to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this great republic, born alone in liberty, is leading the world toward a new age when freedom belongs to all nations. 这是我们国家诞生的信念。从长远来看，推进这一信念是保护我们公民的唯一实际方式。当人们生活在自由之中，他们不会自愿选择追求恐怖运动的领导人。当人们对未来充满希望，他们不会将生命交给暴力和极端主义。因此，在全球范围内，美国正在促进人类自由、人权和人类尊严。我们与持不同政见者和年轻民主国家站在一起，为垂死病人提供艾滋病药物——让垂死病人重获新生，并保护母亲和婴儿免受疟疾之苦。这个在自由中诞生的伟大共和国，正在引领世界走向一个自由属于所有国家的新时代。
For 8 years, we've also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home. Across our country, students are rising to meet higher standards in public schools. A new Medicare prescription drug benefit is bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled. Every taxpayer pays lower income taxes. The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through face—faith-based programs. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Funding for our veterans has nearly doubled. America's air and water and lands are measurably cleaner. And the Federal bench includes wise new members like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. 八年来，我们也努力在国内扩大机会和希望。在全国范围内，学生们正在努力达到公立学校的更高标准。新的医疗保险处方药福利正在为老年人和残疾人带来安心。每个纳税人的所得税都降低了。成瘾者和受苦者正在通过基于信仰的项目找到新的希望。脆弱的人类生命得到了更好的保护。退伍军人的资金几乎翻了一番。美国的空气、水和土地明显更加清洁。联邦法院包括了像大法官萨姆·阿利托和首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨这样明智的新成员。
When challenges to our prosperity emerged, we rose to meet them. Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures to safeguard our economy. These are very tough times for hardworking families. But the toll would be far worse if we had not acted. All Americans are in this together. And together, with determination and hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth. We will show the world once again the resilience of America's free enterprise system. 当我们的繁荣面临挑战时，我们挺身而出迎接挑战。面对金融危机的前景，我们采取了果断措施来保护我们的经济。对于辛勤工作的家庭来说，这是非常艰难的时期。但如果我们不采取行动，代价会更加惨重。所有美国人都同舟共济。凭借决心和辛勤工作，我们将共同使经济恢复增长之路。我们将再次向世界展示美国自由企业制度的韧性。
Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. And there are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I've always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions. 像我之前所有担任这个职位的人一样，我经历过挫折。如果有机会，有些事情我会做得不同。但我总是以国家的最佳利益行事。我遵循我的良心，做我认为正确的事情。你可能不同意我做出的一些艰难决定，但我希望你能同意，我愿意做出艰难的决定。
The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country, and there are some guiding principles that shape—should shape our course. 未来几十年将为我们的国家带来更多艰难的选择，有一些指导原则应该塑造我们的道路。
While our Nation is safer than it was 7 years ago, the gravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies are patient and determined to strike again. America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But we have been given solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. We must resist complacency. We must keep our resolve. And we must never let down our guard. 虽然我们国家比七年前更安全，但对我们人民最严重的威胁仍然是另一次恐怖袭击。我们的敌人耐心且决心再次发动袭击。美国没有做任何事情来寻求或应得这场冲突。但我们被赋予了庄严的责任，我们必须履行它们。我们必须抵制自满。我们必须保持决心。我们绝不能放松警惕。
At the same time, we must continue to engage the world with confidence and clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion, protectionism. Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the 21st century, security and prosperity at home depend on the expansion of liberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led. 同时，我们必须继续以信心和明确的目标与世界接触。面对来自国外的威胁，寻求向内转以寻求安慰可能很诱人。但我们必须拒绝孤立主义及其伙伴——保护主义。退缩到我们的边境后面只会招致危险。在21世纪，国内的安全与繁荣取决于自由在国外的扩展。如果美国不领导自由事业，这个事业就不会被领导。
As we address these challenges and others we cannot foresee tonight, America must maintain our moral clarity. I've often spoken to you about good and evil, and this has made some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two there can be no compromise. Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere. Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right. This Nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. We must always be willing to act in their defense and to advance the cause of peace. 当我们应对这些挑战以及今晚无法预见的其他挑战时，美国必须保持我们的道德清晰度。我经常与你们谈论善与恶，这让一些人感到不舒服。但善与恶存在于这个世界上，两者之间没有妥协的余地。为推进意识形态而谋杀无辜者在任何时候、任何地方都是错误的。将人们从压迫和绝望中解放出来永远是正确的。这个国家必须继续为正义和真理发声。我们必须永远愿意为捍卫它们而行动，并推进和平事业。
President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." As I leave the house he occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism. America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing and renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead. 托马斯·杰斐逊总统曾经写道："我更喜欢未来的梦想而不是过去的历史。"当我离开两个世纪前他居住的这座房子时，我分享这种乐观。美国是一个年轻的国家，充满活力，不断成长和自我更新。即使在最艰难的时刻，我们也抬起目光望向广阔的未来。
I have confidence in the promise of America because I know the character of our people. This is a nation that inspires immigrants to risk everything for the dream of freedom. This is a nation where citizens show calm in times of danger and compassion in the face of suffering. We see examples of America's character all around us. And Laura and I have invited some of them to join us in the White House this evening. 我对美国的承诺充满信心，因为我了解我们人民的品格。这是一个激励移民为自由之梦冒一切风险的国家。这是一个公民在危险时刻表现冷静、在苦难面前表现同情的国家。我们在周围看到了美国品格的例子。劳拉和我邀请了一些人今晚加入我们来到白宫。
We see America's character in Dr. Tony Recasner, a principal who opened a new charter school from the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. We see it in Julio Medina, a former inmate who leads a faith-based program to help prisoners returning to society. We see it in Staff Sergeant Aubrey McDade, who charged into an ambush in Iraq and rescued three of his fellow marines. 我们在托尼·雷卡斯纳博士身上看到了美国的品格，他是一位校长，在卡特里娜飓风的废墟上开设了一所新的特许学校。我们在胡里奥·梅迪纳身上看到了它，他是一名前囚犯，领导一个基于信仰的项目帮助囚犯重返社会。我们在奥布里·麦克达德上士身上看到了它，他冲进伊拉克的一次伏击，救出了三名战友。
We see America's character in Bill Krissoff, a surgeon from California. His son Nathan, a marine, gave his life in Iraq. When I met Dr. Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news. He told me he wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of his son. This good man was 60 years old, 18 years above the age limit. But his petition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year he has trained in battlefield medicine. Lieutenant Commander Krissoff could not be here tonight because he will soon deploy to Iraq, where he will help save America's wounded warriors and uphold the legacy of his fallen son. 我们在加州外科医生比尔·克里斯索夫身上看到了美国的品格。他的儿子内森是一名海军陆战队员，在伊拉克牺牲。当我见到克里斯索夫博士和他的家人时，他带来了一些令人惊讶的消息。他告诉我他想加入海军医疗队，以纪念他的儿子。这位善良的人已经60岁，超过年龄限制18岁。但他的豁免申请获得批准，在过去一年里，他接受了战场医学训练。克里斯索夫中校今晚不能在这里，因为他即将被部署到伊拉克，在那里他将帮助拯救美国受伤的战士，并延续他阵亡儿子的遗产。
In citizens like these, we see the best of our country, resilient and hopeful, caring and strong. These virtues give me an unshakable faith in America. We have faced danger and trial, and there's more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great Nation will never tire, never falter, and never fail. 在这些公民身上，我们看到了我们国家最好的一面：坚韧、充满希望、关怀和坚强。这些美德给了我对美国不可动摇的信念。我们面临过危险和考验，未来还有更多。但凭借我们人民的勇气和对理想的信心，这个伟大的国家永远不会疲倦，永远不会动摇，永远不会失败。
It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President. There have been good days and tough days. But every day I have been inspired by the greatness of our country and uplifted by the goodness of our people. I have been blessed to represent this Nation we love. And I will always be honored to carry a title that means more to me than any other, citizen of the United States of America. 担任你们的总统是我一生的荣幸。有过好日子，也有过艰难的日子。但每一天，我都被我们国家的伟大所鼓舞，被我们人民的善良所提升。我很荣幸能够代表我们热爱的这个国家。我将永远自豪地拥有一个对我来说比任何其他头衔都更重要的称号：美利坚合众国公民。
And so, my fellow Americans, for the final time, good night. May God bless this house and our next President, and may God bless you and our wonderful country. Thank you. 因此，我的美国同胞们，最后一次，晚安。愿上帝保佑这座白宫和我们的下一任总统，愿上帝保佑你们和我们美好的国家。谢谢大家。