In Americas ideal of freedom，citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence，instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence．This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act，the Social Security Act，and the G．I．Bill of Rights．And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time．To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country，we will bring the highest standards to our schools，and build an ownership society．We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses，retirement savings and health insurance—preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society．By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny，we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear，and make our society more prosperous and just and equal．
在美国自由的信念中，公民们发现了经济独立带来的作为人的尊严和保障，而不是仅仅徘徊在潦倒的生存边缘辛苦劳作。这是自由的更广泛的定义，它推动了《房屋法案》、《社会保障法案》和《人权法案》的制定。现在，我们将通过改革总体制度，来满足于我们时代的新需求，并扩展这一定义。为了使每一个美国人的生存与发展都与我们国家的希望和未来息息相关，我们将用最高的标准来发展学校教育，建立所有权明晰的社会。我们要让更多的人拥有自己的住房和事业，拥有自己的退休基金和医疗保险。我们要让我们的人民作好准备，以便更积极地应对自由社会中未来生活的挑战。我们要让每一位公民成为自己命运的主宰者。我们将把美国人民从匮乏和担忧中解脱，并把我们的社会建成更加繁荣、公正、平等的社会。
In Americas ideal of freedom，the public interest depends on private character—on integrity，and tolerance toward others，and the rule of conscience in our own lives．Self－government relies，in the end，on the governing of the self．That edifice of character is built in families，supported by communities with standards，and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai，the Sermon on the Mount，the words of the Koran，and the varied faiths of our people．Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before—deals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday，today，and forever．
在美国的自由信念中，公众利益将依赖于个人品质——它包括人格正直、品性宽容，以及个人生活的道德理性。民主自治最终要依赖于对自我的管理。品质的大厦建立在家庭之上，同时得到社区邻里的支持和约束，并在国家生活里贯彻始终。它凭借着西奈真知、宝山临训、《古兰经》的话语教诲，以及各种各样的信仰支持，树立在我们的国家生活之中。美国人通过弘扬历史创造的美好正确的东西——正义的理念和行为准则——一代一代地向前推进着。这些思想信念和行为准则，不仅昨天、今天，直到永远的未来都是如此。
In Americas ideal of freedom，the exercise of rights is ennobled by service，and mercy，and a heart for the weak．Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another．Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love．Americans，at our best，value the life we see in one another，and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth．And our country must abandon all the habits of racism，because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time．
在美国的自由信念中，助人、仁爱和对弱者的关心使个人权利的运用变得更加崇高。全面的自由并不意味着人们之间互不相干。我们国家的发展依赖于那些互相守望的邻里和用爱心关爱迷失者的男男女女们。美国人最良好的表现莫过于珍视在别人身上展现出来的活力，而且永远也会记住，即便是那些被遗弃的东西也有它们自身存在的价值。我们的国家必须抛弃一切种族主义的偏见，因为我们不能在肩负自由使命的同时又还携带着民族偏见的包袱。
From the perspective of a single day，including this day of dedication，the issues and questions before our country are many．From the viewpoint of centuries，the questions that come to us are narrowed and few．Did our generation advance the cause of freedom？And did our character bring credit to that cause？
从每一天看，以今天为例，我们国家正面临着诸多亟待研究与解决的问题。从一个世纪看，我们面对的问题更是显得集中而突出。为此，我们必须考虑：我们这一辈人是否为推动自由事业的发展做了什么？我们的所作所为有没有为这项事业增添光彩？
These questions that judge us also unite us，because Americans of every party and background，Americans by choice and by birth，are bound to one another in the cause of freedom．We have known divisions，which must be healed to move forward in great purposes—and I will strive in good faith to heal them．Yet those divisions do not define America．We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack，and our response came like a single hand over a single heart．And we can feel that same unity and pride whenever America acts for good，and the victims of disaster are given hope，and the unjust encounter justice，and the captives are set free．
这些问题是我们行为的裁判。不同党派和背景的美国人，无论是移民还是本土公民，都在自由事业的追逐奋斗中团结一致。我们知道分裂必须弥合，我们才能向伟大的目标前进。我将做出最大的努力去弥合分裂。不过，这种裂痕不能左右美国。当自由受到威胁时，我们深感相互的团结和关联的重要，我们的反击也如出自同手一心。当美国仗义而行，当灾民们得到救助，当正义得到伸张，当人质获得自由，我们也同样自豪地感到我们是统一体。
We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom．Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability；it is human choices that move events．Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation；God moves and chooses as He wills．We have confidence because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind，the hunger in dark places，the longing of the soul．When our Founders declared a new order of the ages；when soldiers died in wave upon wave for a union based on liberty；when citizens marched in peaceful outrage under the banner“Freedom Now”—they were acting on an ancient hope that is meant to be fulfilled．History has an ebb and flow of justice，but history also has a visible direction，set by liberty and the Author of Liberty．
我们所有人都满怀信心地踏着自由胜利之路前进。这并非是不可避免的历史进程，而是人民选择的结果。我们并不自我认为我们就是上帝垂爱的国家，但我们相信上帝自有他的意志和选择。我们坚信：自由是人类永恒的希望，是黑暗中的明灯，是灵魂的期盼。当我们的立国先贤宣布新时代的准则时，当一批批士兵为了保卫基于自由的联邦而牺牲时，当公民手举“立显自由”的横幅和平抗议时——他们均用自己的行动在实践着那古老的希望。虽然公正在历史上有潮起潮落，但历史也有一条清晰的发展脉络，那就是由自由和自由之神确立的实践方向。
When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration，a witness said，“It rang as if it meant something．”In our time it means something still．America，in this young century，proclaims liberty throughout all the world，and to all the inhabitants thereof．Renewed in our strength—tested，but not weary—we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom．
当《独立宣言》第一次对公众宣读，自由的钟声敲响时，一位亲历者这样说道：“那鸣响不断的钟声似乎特别意味深长。”在我们的时代，这钟声依然意味深长——在新的世纪，美国依然在向世界及所有的人宣告着自由的神圣价值。我们充满着新的活力，我们推动自由的力量经受住了考验，并没有消沉——我们已做好准备去获取自由发展史上最伟大的成就。
May God bless you，and may He watch over the United States of America．
愿上帝保佑你们，保佑美利坚合众国！
