Joe Biden's Inaugural Address

乔·拜登就职演讲（中英文）

Wed January 20, 2021

　　Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris. Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, McConnell, Vice President Pence, my distinguished guests and my fellow Americans, this is America's day.

　　This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

　　We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

　　From now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries.

　　As we look ahead in our uniquely American way: restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we can be and we must be.I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know, I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation. As does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

　　I've just taken the sacred oath. Each of those patriots have taken. The oath, first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect union.

　　This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we've come so far. But we still have far to go. We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.

　　Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. Once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice, some four hundred years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

　　The cry for survival comes from planet itself, a cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

　　To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, unity.

　　In another January, on New Year's Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, “if my name ever goes down into history, it'll be for this act. And my whole soul is in it.”

　　My whole soul was in it today. On this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward, reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

　　I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we're all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never assured.Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward. And we can do that now. History, faith and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos.

　　This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we've acted together.

　　And so today at this time in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again. Hear one another see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

　　My fellow Americans. We have to be different than this. America has to be better than this. And I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as was mentioned earlier, completed amid the Civil War, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet we endured, we prevailed.

　　Here we stand looking out in the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, where 108 years ago, at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today we marked the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office: Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can't change.Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace. And here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground.

　　It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.

　　To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you've placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent, peaceably, the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength.

　　Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

　　Many centuries ago. Saint Augustine, a saint in my church, wrote to the people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and yes, the truth.

　　Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

　　Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand, like my dad, they lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering, can I keep my health care? Can I pay my mortgage? Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it.

　　But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't look like look like you or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because here's the thing about life. There's no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days, when you need a hand. There are other days when we're called to lend a hand. That's how it has to be. That's what we do for one another. And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree.

　　My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as One Nation. One Nation.

　　And I promise you this, as the Bible says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We will get through this together. Together.

　　Look, folks, all my colleagues I served with in the House of the Senate up there, we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we’ll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

　　We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security. Look, you all know, we've been through so much in this nation. And my first act as president, I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost this past year to the pandemic. Those four hundred thousand fellow Americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors and coworkers. We will honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you, let's say a silent prayer for those who've lost their lives, those left behind and for our country.

　　Amen.

　　Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America's role in the world. Any one of these will be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested. Are we going to step up? All of us? It’s time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

　　Will we rise to the occasion, is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. I'm sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America. The American story. A story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. It's called American Anthem. There's one verse that stands out, at least for me, and it goes like this:

　　The work and prayers of a century have brought us to this day.

　　What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?

　　Let me know in my heart when my days are through.

　　America, America, I gave my best to you.

　　Let's add. Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say of us: They gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land.

　　My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America and I will give all, all of you. Keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power, but of possibilities, not of personal interest, but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us. The story that inspires us and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history. We met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch, but thrived. That America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forbearers, one another and generations to follow.

　　So, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time. Sustained by faith, driven by conviction, devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.

首席大法官罗伯茨、哈里斯副总统、佩洛西议长、参议院（民主党）领袖舒默，参议院（共和党）领袖麦康奈尔、彭斯副总统、尊敬的来宾们，我的美国同胞，今天是美国之日，是民主之日，是关乎历史和希望、复兴和决心之日。在过去的这些日子里，美国再一次经受了考验和挑战。今天，我们庆祝的不是一个候选人的胜利，而是民主事业的胜利。人民的声音得到倾听，人民的意愿得到关注。

我们再次了解到，民主是宝贵的，也是脆弱的。但我的朋友们，就在此时，民主取得了胜利。就在几天前，在这神圣的土地上，暴力试图动摇我们所处的国会大厦的基础。但我们团结在一起，作为一个在上帝统治下的不可分割的国家，和平地进行权力转移，就像我们两个多世纪以来一样所做的一样。

当我们以独特的、“美国的”方式——不安、大胆、乐观——展望未来时，并把目光投向了一个我们知道自己能够且必须成为的国家时，我感谢两党的前辈们。我从心底里感谢他们。我知道我们的宪法和国家的力量。我昨晚和卡特总统聊过，他也是如此。他今天不能和我们在一起，但我们向他一生的服务致敬。

我刚刚宣读了这些爱国者宣读过的神圣誓言，乔治·华盛顿是他们之中第一个宣读誓言的人。但美国的故事不取决于我们中的任何一个人，不取决于我们中的某些人，而是取决于我们所有寻求一个更完美的联邦的人。这是一个伟大的国家，我们是善良的人。在过去的几个世纪里，在和平与战争中，在风风雨雨中，我们已经走到了今天。但是我们还有很长的路要走。

我们将迅速而紧迫地向前推进，因为在这个充满危险和重大可能性的冬天，我们有许多事情要做，许多事情要治愈，很多事情要恢复，很多事情要建设，很多事情要收获。在我们国家的历史上，很少有比我们现在所处的时代更具有挑战性或更加困难。一种百年一遇的病毒，悄无声息地侵袭着这个国家，它在一年内夺走的生命数量，相当于二战期间的全部生命。数百万人失去了工作。数十万家企业倒闭。对种族正义的呐喊与渴求，持续了已有400年，人人享有正义的梦想不应再被推迟。关乎地球本身的存续的呼喊，从未如此迫切和清晰。我们要面对政治极端主义、白人至上主义、国内恐怖主义的抬头，我们将打败它们。

为了克服这些挑战，为了重建美国的灵魂，为了确保美国的未来，所需要的远不止是言语。它需要民主制度中最难以捉摸的东西——团结。在另一个一月的一天，1863年的元旦，亚伯拉罕·林肯签署了《解放黑奴宣言》。落笔时，林肯总统说， “如果我的名字被载入史册，那将是因为这一举动，而我的整个灵魂都在其中。”

我的整个灵魂就在今天， 在这个一月的一天。让美国团结起来，团结我们的人民，团结我们的国家。我请求每一个美国人和我一起加入我的行列，团结起来对抗我们所面临的敌人：愤怒、怨恨和仇恨，极端主义，无法无天，暴力，疾病，失业和绝望。

当我们团结起来，我们可以做伟大的事情，重要的事情。我们可以纠正错误，我们可以让人们找到好的工作，我们可以在安全的学校里教育孩子。我们可以战胜致命的病毒，我们可以重建工作，我们可以重建中产阶级并使工作有保障，我们可以确保种族正义，我们可以使美国再次成为世界上造福人类的主导力量。

我知道，如今在一些人看来，谈论团结可能听起来像一个愚蠢的幻想。我知道，分裂我们的力量是深刻的，是真实存在的。但我也知道，这些力量并不是新的。我们的历史一直在美国的理想和严酷的丑陋现实之间不断斗争：一边是生而平等，一边是种族主义、本土主义和将我们撕裂的恐惧。这场斗争是常年的，胜利也从来不是理所当然的。

经历了内战、大萧条、世界大战、911，经历了挣扎、牺牲、挫折，人性中的天使总是占了上风。在每一个时刻，都有足够多的人走到一起，带着我们所有人向前走，我们现在就可以做到这一点。历史、信仰和理性都指明了道路，一条团结的道路。

我们可以不把对方视为对手，而是视为邻居。我们可以以尊严和尊重相待。我们可以联合起来，停止争吵、平息怒火。因为没有团结，就没有和平，只有苦涩和愤怒；没有进步，只有筋疲力尽；没有国家，只有混乱的状态。这是我们面临危机和挑战的历史时刻，而团结是前进的道路。我们必须以美利坚合众国的身份迎接这一时刻。

如果我们这样做，我保证我们不会失败。当我们一起行动的时候，我们从来没有，从来没有失败过。所以今天，在这个时候在这个地方，让我们所有人重新开始。让我们重新开始聆听彼此的声音，听到彼此，看到彼此，彼此互相尊重。政治不一定要成为一场猛烈的大火，摧毁它所在之处的一切，每一个分歧都不一定要成为全面战争的原因。我们必须拒绝这种文化：事实本身被操纵，甚至被制造。

我的美国同胞们，我们必须与此不同，我们必须比这更好，我也相信美国要比这好得多。看看周围，我们站立在国会大厦穹顶的阴影下。如前所述，这座建筑建成于南北战争的阴影之中。那时候的联邦岌岌可危，但我们忍耐，我们取得胜利。

我们站在这里，看着诺大的广场，这是马丁·路德·金博士谈及他的梦想的地方。108年前，也是在我们站立的地方，在另一次就职典礼上，成千上万的抗议者试图阻止勇敢的妇女为投票权而游行。而在今天，我们见证了第一位当选为国家领导人的女性、副总统卡马拉·哈里斯的宣誓就职。不要告诉我，事情不会改变。我们所站立的地方，英雄们付出了最后的一切，他们在永恒的和平中安息。

就在几天前，在我们所站立的地方，一群暴徒以为他们可以使用暴力来压制人民的意志，阻止我们的民主制度运转，把我们从这片神圣的土地上赶走。这没有发生，也永远不会发生，今天不会，明天不会，永远不会。永远不会。对于所有支持我们的人，我为你们对我们的信任而感到谦卑。对于所有不支持我们的人，我想说的是：在我们前进的过程中，请听见我们的声音，考量我和我的心。

如果你还是有异议，那就保留异议。这就是民主，这就是美国，这就是和平表达异议的权利。而我们民主的护栏，或许正是我们国家最强大的力量。我想说的是，分歧不应导向分裂。我向你们保证：我将成为所有美国人的总统，所有美国人。我向你们保证，我会为那些不支持我的人而战，就像为那些支持我的人而战一样。

许多世纪前，圣人圣奥古斯丁写道，所谓民族，是由他们的爱的共同对象所定义的人群。“爱的共同对象”——作为美国人，我们所爱的共同对象是什么，是什么将我们定义为美国人？我想我们知道。机会、安全、自由、尊严、尊重、荣誉，还有真理。

最近几周和几个月给我们上了一堂惨痛的课。有真相，也有谎言——谎言是为了权力和利益而说的。作为公民，作为美国人，我们每个人都有义务和责任，尤其是作为领导人。领导人应承诺遵守宪法以保护国家，应捍卫真理，打败谎言。

各位，我明白我的许多美国同胞对未来充满恐惧。我知道他们担心自己的工作，我明白像他们的父亲一样，他们晚上躺在床上盯着天花板想：“我能不能保住我的医疗？我能支付我的房贷吗？”想着他们的家庭，想着下一步该怎么办。我向你保证，我完全明白。但答案不是自我封闭，退缩到相互对立的派别中去，不信任那些和你长得不一样的人，或者和你信仰不一样的人，新闻来源和你不一样的人。

我们必须结束这场红与蓝、农村与城市、保守与自由的非内战。如果我们敞开心胸而不是固执己心，如果我们表现出一点宽容和谦逊，如果我们愿意站在别人的立场上——就像我妈妈会说的那样——我们就可以做到这一点。只需要那么一会儿，站在他们的立场上想一想。

因为这就是生活。命运的安排是无法预料的。有些日子你需要帮助。但也有一些日子，我们被要求伸出援手。这就是我们应该做的，这就是我们为彼此所做的。如果我们这样做，我们的国家会更强大，更繁荣，做更好的准备迎接未来，而我们仍然可以持有不同立场与观点。

我的美国同胞们，在我们将面临的工作中，我们将需要彼此。我们需要我们所有的力量，来坚持度过这个黑暗的冬天。我们正在进入可能是病毒最致命、最严重的时期。我们必须抛开政治因素，最终以一个国家、一个民族的姿态来面对这场大流行。我保证，正如《圣经》所言："哭泣可以忍受一夜，喜乐在早晨降临"。我们将一起度过难关，我们会一起度过这个难关。

各位，我在众议院和参议院服务的所有同事，我们都明白，全世界都在注视，看着今天我们所有人。所以我想对那些在我们国界之外的人说一句话：美国已经经受了考验，我们为此而变得更加强大。我们将修复我们的联盟，并再次与世界交流。不是为了应对昨天的挑战，而是为了应对今天和明天的挑战。我们将不仅仅作为强大力量的榜样来领导世界，而是通过我们作为榜样的力量来实现这一目标。

美国同胞，妈妈，爸爸，儿子，女儿，朋友，邻居和同事，我们将通过成为我们可以而且应该成为的人民和国家来纪念他们。所以我请求你们，让我们为那些失去生命的人，那些被抛下的人，也为我们的国家默默祈祷。阿门。

朋友们，这是考验我们的时刻。我们面临着对我们民主的攻击，也面临着对真理的攻击，我们面临着肆虐的病毒、严峻的不平等、系统性的种族主义、处于危机之中的气候，以及美国在世界上的角色。这些中的任何一个，都足以对我们构成严峻的挑战。但事实是，我们要同时面临所有的问题，代表这个国家去承担这份最重大的责任。现在我们将面临考验，我们会站出来吗？

是时候鼓起勇气了，因为我们有很多事情要做。我深信，我们将被评判，通过我们如何解决这些属于这个时代的、层出不穷的危机。我们将迎难而上。我们能否掌控这个少有的困难时刻？我们能否履行我们的义务，把一个新的更美好的世界传给我们的孩子？我相信我们必须这样做，我相信你们也一样。我相信我们可以做到，而当我们成功的时候，我们将在美利坚合众国的历史上写下又一个伟大的篇章，一个属于美国的故事。这个故事，听起来像是一首对我来说意义重大的歌，它叫《美国国歌》。其中有一段歌词，至少对我来说，是很重要的。它如此写道：“一个世纪的努力和祈祷让我们走到了今天，这将是我们的遗产，我们的孩子们会怎么说？当我的日子走到尽头时，让我心里知道，美国，美国，我把最好的东西给了你。”

让我们把自己的付出和祈祷加入到我们伟大国家的故事中。如果我们这样做，那么当我们的日子结束时，我们的孩子和我们孩子的孩子会对我们说：'他们尽了最大的努力，他们尽了他们的责任，他们治愈了一片破碎的土地。

我的美国同胞们，我以神圣的誓言结束我的一天。在上帝和你们所有人面前，我向你们保证： 我将永远与你们站在一起。我将捍卫宪法，我将捍卫我们的民主。我将捍卫美国，我将尽我所能为每一个人服务。不是在思考权力，而是在思考可能性。不是出于个人利益，而是出于公共利益。

我们将共同谱写一个充满希望而非恐惧的美国故事，一个团结而非分裂的故事，一个充满光明而非黑暗的故事，一个关于正直和尊严、爱和治愈、伟大和善良的故事。愿这个故事激励我们，也引导我们。这个故事将告诉未来的人们，我们响应了历史的号召，我们迎接了这一时刻。民主和希望，真理和正义，并没有在我们的眼皮底下死去，而是茁壮成长。美国确保了国内的自由，并再次成为世界的灯塔。这是我们欠我们的祖先、彼此和后代的。

因此，我们带着目的和决心，直面时代赋予我们的任务。在信仰的支撑下，在信念的驱使下，我们全心全意地致力于彼此和我们所爱的国家。愿上帝保佑美国，上帝保护我们的军队。谢谢你，美国。