Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.
Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, have not lived in vain.
译文（一）
主啊！求你培育我的儿子，使他成为坚强的人，知道自己的弱点；使他成为勇敢的人，能够面对畏怯时的自己，败不馁而胜不骄。
求你培育我的儿子，让他不要以愿望代替行动，引导他认识主，并认清自知是知识的基础。
我祈祷，请勿引领他步入平安舒适的道路，而要让他经历困难和挑战的磨练，使他能在暴风雨中站起来，让他学习同情失败者。
请培育我的儿子，让他心地纯正，目光远大。在他企图驾驭别人之前，能先驾驭自己，要放眼未来，但也不要忘记过去。
等他学会了这些，我再祈祷，让他有幽默感，这样他虽可能永远严肃，但绝不会过分苛求自己；教他谦卑，使他永远记得真正的伟大是平凡，真正智慧的谦虚，真正的力量是温和。
然后，做他父亲的我，能够放心地低声自语：“我不虚此生！”
译文（二）
主啊，教导我儿子软弱时能够坚强不屈，在惧怕时能够勇敢自持，在诚实的失败中毫不气馁，在光明的胜利中仍能保持谦逊温和。
教导我儿子笃实力行而不从事空想；使他认识你-同时也认识他自己，这才是一切知识的开端。
我祈求你，不要将他引上逸乐之途，而将他置于困难及挑战的磨练与刺激之下。使他学着在风暴中站立起来，而又由此学着同情那些跌倒的人。
求你让他有一颗纯洁的心，有一个高尚的目标，在学习指挥别人之前，先学会自制；在迈向未来之时，而不遗忘过去。
主啊，在他有了这些美德之后，我还要祈求你赐给他充分的幽默感，以免他过分严肃；赐给他谦虚，才能使他永远记着真正的伟大是单纯，真正的智慧是坦率，真正的力量是温和。
然后，作为父亲的我，才敢轻声地说：“我总算这辈子没有白活。”
阿门！
评论