Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens: 副总统约翰逊先生、议长先生、首席大法官先生、艾森豪威尔总统、尼克松副总统、杜鲁门总统、各位牧师、各位公民：
We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. 今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的庆典——象征着结束，也象征着开始——意味着更新，也意味着变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前宣誓，我们的先辈们近一个半世纪前制定的同样庄严的誓言。
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. 现在的世界已经大不相同了。人类手中掌握着消除一切形式的人类贫困和一切形式的人类生命的力量。然而，我们先辈为之奋斗的同样的革命信念仍在全球范围内争论——即人类的权利不是来自国家的慷慨，而是来自上帝之手。
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. 我们今天不敢忘记，我们是第一次革命的继承者。
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. 让这个词从此时此地向朋友和敌人一样传播，火炬已经传递给新一代美国人——他们出生在这个世纪，经受了战争的考验，经历了艰难困苦的和平的锤炼，为我们古老的遗产感到自豪，不愿目睹或允许这个国家一直致力于的、我们今天在国内和世界各地都致力于的那些人权慢慢消失。
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. 让每个国家都知道，无论它希望我们好还是坏，我们都将付出任何代价，承受任何负担，迎接任何困难，支持任何朋友，反对任何敌人，以确保自由的生存和成功。
This much we pledge -- and more. 这是我们的承诺——还有更多。
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. 对于那些与我们共享文化和精神起源的老盟友，我们承诺忠实朋友的忠诚。团结起来，我们在许多合作事业中几乎无所不能。分裂时，我们几乎无能为力——因为我们不敢在意见分歧和分裂的情况下迎接强大的挑战。
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. 对于我们欢迎加入自由行列的那些新国家，我们承诺，一种殖民统治形式的消失，不应仅仅被一种更铁的暴政所取代。我们并不总是期望他们支持我们的观点。但我们始终希望他们坚定地支持自己的自由——并记住，在过去，那些愚蠢地骑虎求权的人最终葬身虎腹。
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. 对于生活在半个地球的茅屋和村庄里、努力摆脱大众苦难枷锁的人们，我们承诺尽最大努力帮助他们自助，无论需要多长时间——不是因为共产党人可能正在这样做，不是因为我们寻求他们的选票，而是因为这是正确的。如果一个自由社会不能帮助众多穷人，它就不能拯救少数富人。
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge: to convert our good words into good deeds, in a new alliance for progress, to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. 对于我们边界以南的姐妹共和国，我们提出特别承诺：在新的进步联盟中，将我们的美好言辞转化为实际行动，帮助自由人和自由政府摆脱贫困的枷锁。但这场充满希望的和平革命不能成为敌对势力的猎物。让我们所有的邻国都知道，我们将与他们一起反对美洲任何地方的侵略或颠覆。并让其他任何国家都知道，这个半球打算继续成为自己家园的主人。
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support -- to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. 对于主权国家的世界大会——联合国，在战争工具远远超过和平工具的时代，我们最后的最佳希望，我们重申支持的承诺——防止它沦为纯粹的谩骂论坛，加强它对新国家和弱国的保护，并扩大它的权力可以运行的领域。
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. 最后，对于那些将自己视为我们对手的国家，我们提出的不是承诺而是请求：在科学释放的毁灭性黑暗力量将全人类卷入计划或意外的自我毁灭之前，双方重新开始寻求和平。
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. 我们不敢以软弱引诱他们。因为只有当我们的武器毫无疑问地足够时，我们才能毫无疑问地确定它们永远不会被使用。
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course -- both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. 但两个伟大而强大的国家集团也不能从我们目前的进程中得到安慰——双方都因现代武器的成本而负担过重，双方都对致命原子的稳步扩散感到正当的震惊，但双方都在竞相改变阻止人类最后战争之手的不确定的恐怖平衡。
So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. 所以让我们重新开始——双方都要记住，文明不是软弱的标志，真诚总是需要证明的。让我们永远不要因为恐惧而谈判，但让我们永远不要害怕谈判。
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. 让双方探索什么问题使我们团结，而不是纠缠于使我们分裂的问题。
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. 让双方首次制定关于武器检查和控制的严肃而精确的提案，并将摧毁其他国家的绝对权力置于所有国家的绝对控制之下。
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. 让双方寻求唤起科学的奇迹，而不是其恐怖。让我们一起探索星空，征服沙漠，根除疾病，开发海洋深处，并鼓励艺术和商业。
Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens, and [to] let the oppressed go free." 让双方联合起来，在地球的每个角落听从以赛亚的命令——"卸下重担，释放被压迫者。"
And, if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor -- not a new balance of power, but a new world of law -- where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved. 而且，如果合作的滩头堡可以击退怀疑的丛林，让双方共同创造一项新的事业——不是新的权力平衡，而是新的法治世界——强者公正，弱者安全，和平得到维护。
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days; nor in the life of this Administration; nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. 所有这一切都不会在最初的一百天内完成。也不会在最初的一千天内完成；也不会在本届政府的任期内完成；甚至可能不会在我们在这个星球上的有生之年完成。但让我们开始。
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. 公民们，我们事业的最终成败更多地取决于你们手中，而不是我手中。自从这个国家成立以来，每一代美国人都被召唤来证明他们的国家忠诚。响应服务号召的年轻美国人的坟墓遍布全球。
Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation," a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. 现在号角再次召唤我们——不是号召我们拿起武器，尽管我们需要武器——不是号召我们战斗，尽管我们处于战斗状态——而是号召我们承担漫长斗争的负担，年复一年，"在希望中欢欣，在苦难中忍耐"，与人类共同的敌人作斗争：暴政、贫困、疾病和战争本身。
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? 我们能否针对这些敌人建立一个宏伟的全球联盟，无论南北东西，以确保全人类更富有成果的生活？你们愿意加入这一历史性的努力吗？
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. 在世界漫长的历史中，只有少数几代人被赋予在自由处于最大危险时刻捍卫自由的角色。我不会逃避这项责任——我欢迎它。我不相信我们任何人会与任何其他民族或任何其他时代交换位置。我们为这项事业带来的能量、信念和奉献精神将照亮我们的国家和所有为它服务的人。那火焰发出的光芒确实可以照亮世界。
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. 因此，我的美国同胞们，不要问你的国家能为你做什么；问你能为你的国家做什么。
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. 世界各国的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做什么，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做什么。
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. 最后，无论你是美国公民还是世界公民，请要求我们这里的人达到我们要求你的同样高标准的力量和牺牲。以良好的良心作为我们唯一确定的回报，以历史作为我们行为的最终评判者，让我们前进，领导我们热爱的国家，寻求他的祝福和帮助，但知道在这个地球上，上帝的工作必须真正是我们自己的。