就职演讲

I have just repeated word for word the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago, and the Bible on which I placed my hand is the Bible on which he placed his.
刚才，我逐字逐句地重复了乔治华盛顿二百年前宣读过的誓词，我的手所按的也正是他当年按过的那部《圣经》。
It is right that the memory of Washington be with us today, not only because this is our Bicentennial Inauguration, but because Washington remains the Father of our Country.
今天，我们应当纪念华盛顿，这不仅是因为今天这次典礼乃是我国首任总统就职二百周年的纪念，同时也是因为华盛顿仍然是我们的国父。
And he would, I think, be gladdened by this day; for today is the concrete expression of a stunning fact: our continuity these 200 years since our government began.
我想他的在天之灵一定会为今天而感到高兴，因为今天具体体现了一个令人振奋的事实——我国政府自成立以来的二百年里，一直保持着连续性。
We meet on democracy's front porch, a good place to talk as neighbors and as friends.
今天，我们相聚于民主大厦的前门走廊，这是一个我们以邻居和朋友的身分进行交谈的好地方。
For this is a day when our nation is made whole, when our differences, for a moment, are suspended.
因为今天我国人民变成了一个整体，我们的分歧也得以暂时搁置。
And my first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads:
而我作为总统的第一个举动，就是要进行祈祷。
Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love.
我请各位低下头来：“在天的父啊，我们俯首向您致谢，感谢您的垂爱。
Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely.
请接受我们的谢意吧，我们感谢促成今日盛典的安宁徉和局面，庆幸我们拥有使这种局面永世 长存的共同信念。
Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: "Use power to help people."
让我们变得强大有力以完成您的使命吧，我们愿意关注和听从您的意旨，把‘御力以助人’这一箴言铭刻在心头。
For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name.
因为我们被赋予力量，并不是为了实现我们自己的目标，也不是为了在世界上大肆炫耀，更不是为了追逐浮名。
There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord. Amen.
正当运用力量的途径只有一条，那就是服务于人民。主啊，佑助我们牢记这些吧。阿门。”
I come before you and assume the Presidency at a moment rich with promise.
在这个充满希望的时刻，我来到各位面前，就任总统之职。
We live in a peaceful, prosperous time, but we can make it better.
我们生活在一个安宁、繁荣的时代，但我们有能力使之变得更加美好。
For a new breeze is blowing, and a world refreshed by freedom seems reborn; for in man's heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over.
因为一股新的轻风正在吹拂，一个经过自由洗礼的新世界看来已经获得新生；因为独裁者的时代即便没有在事实上终结，它在人们的内心则已成为陈迹。
The totalitarian era is passing, its old ideas blown away like leaves from an ancient, lifeless tree.
极权主义的时代正在逝去，其过时观念就像一棵古老衰朽之树的叶片，已随风飘零。
A new breeze is blowing, and a nation refreshed by freedom stands ready to push on.
一股新的轻风正在吹拂，经过自由洗礼的全国人民已经做好出发的准备。
There is new ground to be broken, and new action to be taken.
新的阵地有待我们去占领，新的行动有待我们去着手。
There are times when the future seems thick as a fog; you sit and wait,
有时未来似乎为重重迷雾所遮蔽；于是人们就坐下来等待，
hoping the mists will lift and reveal the right path.
盼望迷雾自行散去，正确的道路会清晰地出现在脚下。
But this is a time when the future seems a door you can walk right through into a room called tomorrow.
但在这个时代，未来就像一扇打开的门，人们可以直接穿过，进入一个叫做明天的房间。
Great nations of the world are moving toward democracy through the door to freedom.
世界各个大国正在经过通向自由的大门走向民主。
总统介绍

乔治·赫伯特·沃克·布什，美国第51届41任总统。由于美国历史上存在过两位布什总统，因此又常被称为老布什，以便与其同样担任过美国总统的长子乔治·沃克·布什作区别。老布什最为人知的政绩是1991年海湾战争。他在任内成功打败伊拉克，并对其实施经济制裁。