1965年1月20日，星期四
My fellow countrymen：
同胞们：
On this occasion，the oath I have taken before you and before God is not mine alone，but ours together．We are one nation and one people．Our fate as a nation and our future as a people rest not upon one citizen，but upon all citizens．
此时此刻，我在你们和上帝面前宣誓，这个誓言不只是我个人的，而是我们大家的。我们同住在一个国家，同属一个民族。我们国家的命运和我们民族的未来并不是靠一个公民，而是要靠所有的公民。
This is the majesty and the meaning of this moment．
这就是这一时刻的庄严及其意义所在。
For every generation，there is a destiny．For some，history decides．For this generation，the choice must be our own．
每一代人都有自己的命运。就某些时代的人而言，历史决定了他们的命运。至于我们这一代人，我们必须选择自己的命运。
Even now，a rocket moves toward Mars．It reminds us that the world will not be the same for our children，or even for ourselves m a short span of years．The next man to stand here will look out on a scene different from our own，because ours is a time of change—rapid and fantastic change bearing the secrets of nature，multiplying the nations，placing in uncertain hands new weapons for mastery and destruction，shaking old values，and uprooting old ways．
此时此刻，一枚火箭正向着火星飞去。这提醒我们，对我们的子孙来说，甚至对我们自己来说，在短短几年内，世界将不会再像现在一样。下一任总统站在这里时，他将展望一个和我们现在不同的景象。因为我们的时代是一个变革的时代。迅速而又急剧的变革，揭示了自然的奥秘，使国家成倍地增加，让靠不住的人掌握了能征服和毁灭人类的新式武器，动摇了旧的价值观念，改变了旧的生活方式。
Our destiny in the midst of change will rest on the unchanged character of our people，and on their faith．
在这场变革中，我们的命运将取决于我国人民始终不渝的性格，取决于我们的信念。
They came here—the exile and the stranger，brave but frightened—to find a place where a man could be his own man．They made a covenant with this land．Conceived in justice，written in liberty，bound in union，it was meant one day to inspire the hopes of all mankind；and it binds us still．If we keep its terms，we shall flourish．
我们的祖辈，那些背井离乡的异乡人，那些勇敢而受惊的异乡人，为寻找一块个人可以自主的地方而来到这里。他们在这块土地上订立了公约。这一公约以公正来表达，用自由写成，受团结的约束，指望总有一天会激励全人类的理想，这一公约至今仍约束着我们。我们如果遵循公约的规定，就将繁荣昌盛。
First，justice was the promise that all who made the journey would share in the fruits of the land．
公约的第一条是公正，就是允许所有迁徙到这里的人共享土地的硕果。
In a land of great wealth，families must not live in hopeless poverty．In a land rich in harvest，children just must not go hungry．In a land of healing miracles，neighbors must not suffer and die unattended．In a great land of learning and scholars，young people must be taught to read and write．
在一块富饶的土地上，家家户户不能生活在毫无希望的贫困中。在一块收获丰盛的土地上，孩子们不能遭受饥馑之苦。在一块充满救死扶伤奇迹的土地上，我们的邻居不能无人照料，遭受病痛的折磨而离开人世。在一块知识普及、学者众多的伟大土地上，年轻人必须受到教育，能读会写。
For the more than 30years that I have served this Nation，I have believed that this injustice to our people，this waste of our resources，was our real enemy．For 30years or more，with the resources I have had，I have vigilantly fought against it．I have learned，and I know，that it will not surrender easily．
我为这个国家服务了30多年，我一直认为，不公正地对待我们的人民，浪费我们的资源，乃是我们真正的敌人。30多年来，我竭尽所能，时刻提防这一敌人并与之作斗争。我认识到，也深深懂得，这个敌人不会轻易屈服。
But change has given us new weapons．Before this generation of Americans is finished，this enemy will not only retreat—it will be conquered．
但是，变革为我们提供了新的武器。在这一代美国人的有生之年，这个敌人不仅会退却，而且还会被征服。
Justice requires us to remember that when any citizen denies his fellow，saying，“His color is not mine，”or“His beliefs are strange and different，”in that moment he betrays America，though his forebears created this Nation．
公正就是要求我们记住，倘若任何一个公民不承认自己的同胞，宣称“某某人的肤色和我的肤色不同”，或者“某某人的信仰奇怪异样”，这个公民便背叛了美国，尽管他的先辈创立了这个国家。
Liberty was the second article of our covenant．It was self－government．It was our Bill of Rights．But it was more．America would be a place where each man could be proud to be himself：stretching his talents，rejoicing in his work，important in the life of his neighbors and his nation．
公约的第二条是自由，就是自治。这就是我们的权利法案，但不仅如此。美国将是人人都能感到自豪的地方，每个人都可以施展才能，愉快地工作，在邻里和国家的生活中发挥重要的作用。
This has become more difficult in a world where change and growth seem to tower beyond the control and even the judgment of men．We must work to provide the knowledge and the surroundings which can enlarge the possibilities of every citizen．
但是，在变革和发展似乎已超出人们控制，甚至超出人们的判断力的世界里，实现自由已经变得更为困难。因此，我们必须努力提供各种知识和环境，为每个公民增加机遇。
The American covenant called on us to help show the way for the liberation of man．And that is today our goal．Thus，if as a nation there is much outside our control，as a people no stranger is outside our hope．
美国公约要求我们为帮助全人类的解放指明道路。这就是我们今天的奋斗目标。因此，作为一个国家，我们无法控制许多事情；但作为一个民族，我们对所有的人充满希望。
Change has brought new meaning to that old mission．We can never again stand aside，prideful in isolation．Terrific dangers and troubles that we once called“foreign”now constantly live among us．If American lives must end，and American treasure be spilled，in countries we barely know，that is the price that change has demanded of conviction and of our enduring covenant．
变革给这一古老的使命增添了新义。我们再也不能袖手旁观，以孤立为荣了。那些曾被我们称之为“外国的”可怕的危险和动乱，现在却时时在我们的生活中发生。如果美国人必须在了解甚少的国家中献出生命并消耗钱财，那也是变革向我们的信念以及向我们不朽的政府索取的代价。
Think of our world as it looks from the rocket that is heading toward Mars．It is like a childs globe，hanging in space，the continents stuck to its side like colored maps．We are all fellow passengers on a dot of earth．And each of us，in the span of time，has really only a moment among our companions．
想像一下在飞向火星的火箭上看地球时的情景吧。地球就像小孩玩的地球仪，它悬在太空间，陆地就像贴在球体表面的彩色地图。我们都是这个小小地球上的旅客。在时间的长河中，我们每个人实际上只在自己的同伴中度过短暂的一瞬。
How incredible it is that in this fragile existence，we should hate and destroy one another．There are possibilities enough for all who will abandon mastery over others to pursue mastery over nature．There is world enough for all to seek their happiness in their own way．
人的生存是如此脆弱，可我们竟然彼此仇恨，相互残杀，这是多么难以令人置信。凡愿意放弃统治他人的人，有足够的机会来实现对自然的统治。天地广阔，足以让每个人以自己的方式寻求幸福。