My fellow citizens: 同胞们：

At this last presidential inauguration¹ of the 20th century, 藉此二十世纪最后一届总统就职演说之际，

let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century. 让我们一起远眺在下一个世纪我们将要面临的挑战。

It is our great good fortune that time and chance have put us not only at the edge of a new century, in a new millennium², 所幸的是，时间和机遇不仅将我们置身于一个新世纪的边缘，一个新的千年，

but on the edge of a bright new prospect³ in human affairs— 而且是人类事业史上一个光明的崭新前景的边缘，

a moment that will define our course,and our character, for decades to come. 这个时刻将会决定我们未来数十年的道路和特点。

We must keep our old democracy forever young. 我们必须使我们古老的民主永葆青春。

Guided by the ancient vision of a promised land, let us set our sights upon a land of new promise. 在“希望之乡”这一古老憧憬的指引下，让我们着眼于新的“希望之乡”。

The promise of America was born in the 18th century out of the bold conviction that we are all created equal. 美国的希望源于十八世纪一种无畏的信念：人皆生而平等。

It was extended and preserved in the 19th century, when our nation spread across the continent, 随着十九世纪，我们的国家横跨大陆，拯救了联邦，

saved the union, and abolished the awful scourge⁴ of slavery. 废除了恐怖的奴隶制的蹂躏，这一希望得以进一步发展和维护。

Then, in turmoil⁵ and triumph, that promise exploded onto the world stage to make this the American Century. 然后，在动荡和胜利之中，这一希望奔上了世界的舞台，使这个世纪成为美国的世纪。