On Children/論孩子｜The Prophet/先知

 

原文 (Original)	中文翻譯 (Chinese Translation)
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.	有個婦人把嬰孩抱在胸前，說道：「請對我們講講孩子。」
And he said:	他說：
Your children are not your children.	你們的孩子，其實不是你們的孩子。
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.	他們是生命對於自身渴望所生的兒女。
They come through you but not from you,	他們經由你們而來，卻不是從你們而生，
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.	儘管他們和你們在一起，卻不屬於你們。
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,	你們可以給他們你們的愛，卻不能給他們你們的思想，
For they have their own thoughts.	因為他們有他們自己的思想。
You may house their bodies but not their souls,	你們可以庇護他們的身體，卻不能庇護他們的靈魂，
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.	因為他們的靈魂居住在明日的宅邸中，那是你們連在夢中也無法造訪的。
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.	你們可以努力去模仿他們，卻不要企圖讓他們像你們；
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.	因為生命不會倒退，也不會在昨日停留。
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.	你們是弓，孩子們是從你們那裡射出的活箭。
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.	那射手看見了無窮道路上的靶子，祂用神力彎曲你們，好讓祂的箭射得又快又遠。
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;	願你們在射手手中的彎曲是歡欣的；
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.	因為正如祂愛那飛翔的箭，祂也愛那穩固的弓。

Gemini翻譯、產生圖片