On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House on this beautiful summer evening. 我代表米歇尔和我本人，欢迎各位在这个美丽的夏夜来到白宫。
The United States is fortunate to have many allies and partners around the world. Of course, one of our strongest allies, and one of our closest friends, is the State of Israel. And no individual has done so much over so many years to build our alliance and to bring our two nations closer as the leader that we honor tonight -- our friend, Shimon Peres. 美国很幸运，在世界各地拥有许多盟友和伙伴。当然，我们最坚定的盟友、最亲密的朋友之一，就是以色列国。多年来，为巩固我们的同盟、拉近两国关系付出如此之多的，没有谁能超过我们今晚所表彰的这位领袖——我们的朋友西蒙·佩雷斯。
Among many special guests this evening we are especially grateful for the presence of Shimon’s children -- Tzvia, Yoni and Chemi, and their families. Please rise so we can give you a big round of applause. 今晚众多特别来宾中，我们尤其感谢西蒙的子女齐薇娅、约尼和赫米及其家人的到来。请起立，让我们以热烈掌声欢迎他们。
We have here someone representing a family that has given so much for peace, a voice for peace that carries on with the legacy of her father, Yitzhak Rabin -- and that's Dalia. We are grateful to have you here. Leaders who’ve helped ensure that the United States is a partner for peace -- and in particular, I'm so pleased to see Secretary Madeleine Albright, who is here this evening. And one of the great moral voices of our time and an inspiration to us all -- Professor Elie Wiesel. 今晚到场的还有一位来自为和平作出巨大贡献的家庭、继承父亲伊扎克·拉宾遗志、为和平发声的人士——达莉娅。感谢您的到来。还有一些领袖曾帮助确保美国成为和平的伙伴；尤其令我高兴的是，前国务卿马德琳·奥尔布赖特今晚也在这里。以及我们这个时代最伟大的道德声音之一、激励着我们所有人的埃利·维瑟尔教授。
The man, the life that we honor tonight is nothing short of extraordinary. Shimon took on his first assignment in Ben-Gurion’s Haganah, during the struggle for Israeli independence in 1947, when he was still in his early 20s. He ran for President of Israel -- and won -- when he was 83. 今晚我们所表彰的这个人、这段人生，堪称非凡。1947年，在以色列争取独立的斗争期间，西蒙二十出头时便在本-古里安的哈加纳组织接受了第一项任务。他在83岁时竞选以色列总统——并且当选。
By the way, I should mention that I just learned that his son-in-law is also his doctor. And I asked for all his tips. 顺便说一句，我刚得知，他的女婿也是他的医生。我向他讨教了全部秘诀。
Shimon has been serving his nation -- and strengthening the bonds between our two nations -- for some 65 years, the entire life of the State of Israel. Ben-Gurion and Meir, Begin and Rabin -- these giants of Israel’s founding generation now belong to the ages. But tonight, we have the rare privilege in history -- and that's to be in the presence of a true Founding Father. 大约65年来，也就是以色列国存在的整个历程中，西蒙一直服务于自己的国家，并不断加强我们两国之间的纽带。本-古里安、梅厄、贝京和拉宾——这些以色列建国一代的巨人如今都已成为历史。但今晚，我们享有历史上难得的荣幸——亲临一位真正建国之父的身旁。
Shimon, you have never stopped serving. And in two months we’ll join our Israeli friends in marking another milestone -- your 89th birthday. 西蒙，您从未停止服务。再过两个月，我们将和以色列朋友一道庆祝又一个里程碑——您的89岁生日。
Now, I think Shimon would be the first to tell you that in the ups and downs of Israeli politics, he has been counted out more than once. But in him we see the essence of Israel itself -- an indomitable spirit that will not be denied. He’s persevered, serving in virtually every position -- in dozens of cabinets, some two dozen ministerial posts, defense minister, finance minister, foreign minister three times. Try that, Madeleine. And now, the 9th President of Israel. And I think President Clinton would agree with me on this -- Shimon Peres is the ultimate "Comeback Kid." 我想西蒙会第一个告诉你，在以色列政治的起起落落中，他不止一次被人认为已经出局。但在他身上，我们看到了以色列本身的精髓——一种不容否认、不可战胜的精神。他坚持不懈，几乎担任过所有职务：进入数十届内阁，出任约二十多个部长职位，担任国防部长、财政部长，并三次出任外交部长。马德琳，您也试试这个。如今，他又是以色列第九任总统。我想克林顿总统也会同意：西蒙·佩雷斯是最了不起的“东山再起者”。
And he’s still going -- on Facebook, on You Tube -- connecting with young people; looking to new technologies, always "facing tomorrow." Recently, he was asked, "What do you want your legacy to be?" And Shimon replied, "Well, it’s too early for me to think about it." 他还在继续前行——通过脸书、优兔与年轻人联系；关注新技术，始终“面向明天”。最近有人问他：“你希望留下怎样的遗产？”西蒙回答：“唔，现在想这个还太早了。”
Shimon, you earned your place in history long ago. And I know your work is far from done. But tonight is another example of how it’s never too early for the rest of us to celebrate your legendary life. 西蒙，您很早以前就已赢得历史中的位置。我知道您的工作远未完成。但今晚再次证明，对我们其余人来说，现在庆祝您传奇的一生，绝不会太早。
Shimon teaches us to never settle for the world as it is. We have a vision for the world as it ought to be, and we have to strive for it. Perhaps Shimon’s spirit comes from what he calls the Jewish "dissatisfaction gene." "A good Jew," he says, "can never be satisfied." There is a constant impulse to question, to do even better. So, too, with nations -- we must keep challenging ourselves, keep striving for our ideals, for the future that we know is possible. 西蒙教导我们，绝不能满足于世界现有的样子。我们对世界应有的样子抱有愿景，并且必须为之努力。也许西蒙的精神源于他所谓的犹太人“永不满足的基因”。他说：“一个好犹太人永远不会满足。”人始终有一种冲动去质疑、去做得更好。国家也是如此——我们必须不断挑战自己，持续为我们的理想、为我们知道能够实现的未来而奋斗。
Shimon knows the necessity of strength. As Ben-Gurion said, "An Israel capable of defending herself, which cannot be destroyed, can bring peace nearer." And so he’s worked with every American President since John F. Kennedy. That’s why I’ve worked with Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure that the security cooperation between the United States and Israel is closer and stronger than it has ever been -- because the security of the State of Israel is non-negotiable, and the bonds between us are unbreakable. 西蒙懂得力量的必要性。本-古里安曾说：“一个有能力自卫、不会被摧毁的以色列，能够让和平更接近。”因此，自约翰·F·肯尼迪以来，他一直同每一位美国总统合作。这正是我同内塔尼亚胡总理合作，确保美以安全合作比以往任何时候都更加紧密、更加强大的原因——因为以色列国的安全不容谈判，而我们之间的纽带牢不可破。
Of course, Shimon also knows that a nation’s security depends not just on the strength of its arms, but upon the righteousness of its deeds -- its moral compass. He knows, as Scripture teaches, that we must not only seek peace, but we must pursue peace. And so it has been the cause of his life -- peace, security and dignity, for Israelis and Palestinians and all Israel’s Arab neighbors. And even in the darkest moments, he’s never lost hope in -- as he puts it -- "a Middle East that is not a killing field but a field of creativity and growth." 当然，西蒙也懂得，一个国家的安全不仅取决于武器的力量，也取决于其行为的正义性——取决于它的道德罗盘。正如《圣经》教导我们的，我们不仅要寻求和平，还必须追求和平。因此，这一直是他毕生的事业——为以色列人、巴勒斯坦人和以色列所有阿拉伯邻国争取和平、安全与尊严。即使在最黑暗的时刻，他也从未放弃希望；正如他所说，盼望的是“一个不再是杀戮场，而是创造与成长之地的中东”。
At times, some have seen his hope and called Shimon Peres a dreamer. And they are right. Just look at his life. The dream of generations, after 2,000 years, to return to Israel, the historic homeland of the Jewish people -- Shimon lived it. The dream of independence, a Jewish State of Israel -- he helped win it. The dream of an Israel strong enough to defend itself, by itself, against any threat, backed by an ironclad alliance with the United States of America -- he helped build it. 有时，有人看到他的希望，便称西蒙·佩雷斯为梦想家。他们说得没错。看看他的一生就知道了。几代人历经两千年，梦想重返以色列——犹太民族的历史故土；西蒙亲历了这一梦想。独立的梦想、建立犹太人的以色列国的梦想——他帮助赢得了它。建设一个足够强大、能够独自抵御任何威胁，并有同美国牢不可破的联盟作后盾的以色列的梦想——他帮助实现了它。
The dream of making the desert bloom -- he and his wife Sonya were part of the generation that achieved it. The dream of the high-tech Israel we see today -- he helped spark it. That historic handshake on the White House lawn -- he helped to create it. That awful night in Tel Aviv, when he and Yitzhak sang a Song for Peace, and the grief that followed -- he guided his people through it. The dream of democracy in the Middle East and the hopes of a new generation, including so many young Arabs -- he knows we must welcome it and nurture it. 让沙漠开花的梦想——他和妻子索尼娅属于实现这一梦想的一代人。我们今天所见高科技以色列的梦想——他帮助点燃了它。白宫草坪上那次历史性的握手——他帮助促成了它。在特拉维夫那个可怕的夜晚，他和伊扎克唱起《和平之歌》，以及随后而来的悲痛——他带领自己的人民走过那一切。中东民主的梦想，以及新一代人的希望，包括众多阿拉伯青年的希望——他知道我们必须欢迎并培育它。
So, yes, Shimon Peres -- born in a shtetl in what was then Poland, who rose to become President of Israel -- he is a dreamer. And rightly so. For he knows what we must never forget: With faith in ourselves and courage in our hearts, no dream is too big, no vision is beyond our reach. 所以，是的，西蒙·佩雷斯——出生在当时属于波兰的一座犹太人小镇，后来成为以色列总统——他是一位梦想家。而且理应如此。因为他明白一件我们绝不能忘记的事：只要相信自己、心中怀有勇气，没有梦想大到无法企及，没有愿景遥远到无法实现。
And so it falls on each of us -- to all of us -- to keep searching, to keep striving for that future that we know is possible, for the peace our children deserve. 因此，这一责任落在我们每一个人身上——落在我们所有人身上——要继续探索，继续为我们知道能够实现的未来而奋斗，为我们的孩子应得的和平而奋斗。
And so it is a high honor for me to bestow this statesman, this warrior for peace, America's highest civilian honor -- the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And I'd ask you to please join me in welcoming President Peres to the presentation. 因此，能够向这位政治家、这位和平战士授予美国最高平民荣誉——总统自由勋章，我深感荣幸。请各位和我一道欢迎佩雷斯总统上前接受授勋。
[The citation is read.] [宣读奖状。]
Military Aide: The President of the United States of America awards this Presidential Medal of Freedom to Shimon Peres. An ardent advocate for Israel's security and the cause of lasting peace, Shimon Peres has devoted his life to public service. Military Aide: 美利坚合众国总统将这枚总统自由勋章授予西蒙·佩雷斯。作为以色列安全和持久和平事业的热忱倡导者，西蒙·佩雷斯献身公共服务。
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the profound role he played in Middle East peace talks that led to the Oslo Accords, and he continues to serve the Israeli people with courage and dignity. Through his unwavering devotion to his country and the cooperation of nations, he has strengthened the unbreakable bonds between Israel and the United States. 他因在促成《奥斯陆协议》的中东和平谈判中发挥深远作用而获诺贝尔和平奖；他仍以勇气和尊严服务以色列人民。凭借对祖国矢志不渝的奉献以及各国之间的合作，他巩固了以色列与美国之间牢不可破的纽带。
President Obama: Before inviting remarks from President Peres, I'd like to conclude by inviting you all to join me in a toast, with the words that Shimon spoke when he accepted the Peace Prize in Oslo: President Obama: 在请佩雷斯总统致辞之前，我想先邀请大家和我一起举杯，引用西蒙在奥斯陆接受诺贝尔和平奖时所说的话：
From my earliest youth, I have known that while one is obliged to plan with care the stages of one's journey, one is entitled to dream, and keep dreaming, of its destination. A man may feel as old as his years, yet as young as his dreams. 从我少年时代起，我就知道：人固然有责任审慎规划旅程的各个阶段，却也有权梦想，并不断梦想它的终点。人会觉得自己如同岁月般苍老，却也能如同梦想般年轻。
Shimon, to all our friends here tonight, and to our fellow citizens across America and Israel -- may we never lose sight of our destination. Shalom, and may we always be as young as our dreams. 西蒙，向今晚在场的所有朋友，向遍布美国和以色列的同胞们——愿我们永远不要忽视我们的目的地。沙洛姆；愿我们永远如梦想般年轻。
L’chaim. Cheers. 为生命干杯。干杯。
