1.Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when his afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble¹ and gentle in victory.

2. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee-and that to know himself is the foundation of knowledge.

3. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.

4. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion² for those who fail.

5. 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 reach into the future, and never forget the past.

6. And after all these things are his, add, I pray enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious. Give him humility³, so that he may always remember the simplicity⁴ of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness⁵ of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”

中文翻译：

1、主啊，恳请这样塑造我的儿子；使他强于自知他软弱之处；恐惧时勇于正视自己；诚实受挫时自豪不屈；胜利顺境时谦逊温情。

2、恳请这样塑造我的儿子：使他不仅能胸怀希望，而且能付诸行动；使他能够感知您的至圣；使他了解自知之明是一切知识的基石。

3、恳请不要把他引入贪图安逸、舒适的歧途，而使他能够在困难及挑战的压力和督促之下奋勇前进。

4、在此请让他学会在暴风雨中屹立不屈，同时请让他学会对受到挫折的人给予理解和同情。

5、恳请为我培养一个心地清明、目标高远的儿子，使他成为一个能责人之心责己的人，一个前事不忘后事之师的人。

6、除此之外，还请求您赐于他一点幽默感，使他既严肃又不失活泼。凭着这种幽默感，让他了解真正的伟大是平凡，真正的智慧是宽广的心胸，真正的力量是柔和。那么，我、他的父亲，才敢默默自许“我这辈子没有白活。”