By Barack Obama

Vice President Biden， Mr. Chief Justice， members of the United States Congress， distinguished guests， and fellow citizens：

Each time we gather to inaugurate a President we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what 1）binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the 2）tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional—what makes us American—is our 3）allegiance to an idea 4）articulated in a declaration made more than two

centuries ago：

“We hold these truths to be 5）self-evident， that all men are created equal； that they are 6）endowed by their Creator with certain 7）unalienable rights； that among these are life， liberty， and the pursuit of happiness.”

Today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident， theyve never been 8）self-executing； that while freedom is a gift from God， it must be secured by His people here on Earth. （applause） The 9）patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the 10）tyranny of a king with the 11）privileges of a few or the rule of a 12）mob. They gave to us a republic， a government of， and by， and for the people， 13）entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.

We understand that outworn programs are 14）inadequate to the needs of our time. So we must 15）harness new ideas and technology to remake our government， 16）revamp our tax code， reform our schools， and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder， learn more， reach higher. But while the means will change， our purpose endures： a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every sin gle American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

We， the people， still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our 17）deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.（applause） For we remember the lessons of our past， when 18）twilight years were spent in poverty and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn.

W e d o n o t believe that in this country f r e e d o m i s reserved for the lucky， or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how r e s p o n s i b l y w e l i v e o u r lives， any one of us at any time may face a job loss， or a sudden illness， or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security， these things do not sap our initiative， they strengthen us. （applause） They do not make us a nation of takers； they free us to take the risks that make this country great. （applause）

We， the people， still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves， but to all 19）posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change， knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.（applause） Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science， but none can avoid the devastating impact of 20）raging fires and 21）crippling drought and more powerful storms.

The path towards 22）sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition， we must lead it. We cannot 23）cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries， we must claim its promise. Thats how we will maintain our economic 24）vitality and our national treasure—our forests and 25）waterways， our crop lands and snow-capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet， commanded to our care by God. Thats what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.

We， the people， still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require 26）perpetual war. （applause） Our brave men and women in uniform， 27）tempered by the flames of battle， are 28）unmatched in skill and courage. （applause） Our citizens， 29）seared by the memory of those we have lost， know too well the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever 30）vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also 31）heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war； who turned 32）sworn enemies into the surest of friends—and we must carry those lessons into this time as well.

We， the people， declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still； just as it guided our 33）forebears through Seneca Falls， and Selma， and Stonewall； just as it guided all those men and women， sung and unsung， who left footprints along this great Mall， to hear a preacher s a y t h a t w e cannot walk alone； to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is 34）inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth. （applause）

It is now our generations task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives， our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.（applause） Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal， then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. （applause） Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. （applause） Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the 35）striving， hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than 36）expelled from our country.（applause） Our journey is not complete until all our children， from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia， to the quiet lanes of Newtown， know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.

That is our generations task—to make these words， these rights， these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every 37）contour of life. It does not mean we all define liberty in exactly the same way or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not 38）compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time， but it does require us to act in our time. （applause）

For now decisions are upon us and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake 39）absolutism for principle， or substitute spectacle for politics， or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. （applause） We must act， we must act， knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act， knowing that todays victories will be only partial and that it will be up to those who stand here in 4 years and 40 years and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.

My fellow Americans， the 40）oath I have sworn before you today， like the one 41）recited by others who serve in this 42）Capitol， was an oath to God and country， not party or 43）faction. And we must faithfully 44）execute that 45）pledge during the 46）duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride.

They are the words of citizens and they represent our greatest hope. You and I， as citizens， have the power to set this countrys course. You and I， as citizens， have the obligation to shape the debates of our time—not only with the votes we cast， but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals. （applause）

Let us， each of us， now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose， with passion and dedication， let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

Thank you. God bless you， and may He forever bless these United States of America. （applause）

拜登副总统、首席大法官先生、各位国会议员、各位嘉宾、同胞们：

每一次举行总统就职典礼，我们都共同见证了我国宪法经久不衰的力量。我们重申我们的民主制度的承诺。回顾历史，这个国家的团结不是源于我们的肤色、我们的宗教信仰或我们家族的来源地。我们卓尔不凡——我们美国人独具特色——的根本原因是 我们对两个多世纪以前的一份宣言中所阐明的思想忠诚不渝：

“我们认为以下真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主赋予他们某些不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生存、自由和追求幸福的权利。”

今天，我们仍在继续着这一永无终点的旅程——努力把这些话的含义化作我们时代的现实。历史告诉我们，这些真理虽然不言而喻，却从未自动降临；自由虽然是上帝的恩赐，却须上帝在普天之下的子民们加以捍卫。（掌声）1776年爱国者们的奋斗不是为了用少数人的特权或是一群暴民的统治来取代一个君王的专制。他们给予我们的是一个共和国——一个民有、民治、民享的政府——并托付每一代人去捍卫我们的立国之本。

我们都知道，已经过时的计划无法满足我们这个时代的需要。因此，我们必须利用新的思维和技术再造我们的政府，重订我们的税法，改革我们的学校，让我们的公民获得所需要的技能，从而更加努力地工作，掌握更多的知识，达到更高的水平。但是，虽然方式会发生改变，但我们的目的是永恒的：一个对每一位美国人的努力和坚毅都给予回报的国度。这是时代赋予我们的重任。这才能真正体现我们的信念之真谛。

我们的人民仍然相信，每一位公民都应享有基本的安全保障和尊严。我们必须作出艰难的抉择来降低医疗保障的开支和赤字的规模。但我们摈弃这样的看法，即美国必须选择要么照顾建设起这个国家的那一代人，要么投资于将要建设这个国家的未来的那一代人。（掌声）因为我们记得我们过去的经验教训——暮年在贫困中度过，残疾儿童的父母求助无门。

我们相信，在这个国家，自由并不专属于那些幸运儿，幸福也不专属于少数人。我们知道，不管我们对自己的生活多么负责，我们任何一个人都随时有可能面临失业或突发疾病，或住房被可怕的飓风摧毁。我们通过联邦医疗保险、医疗补助和社会保障等计划对每一个人作出承诺，这些举措不会挫伤我们的主动性，而是让我们更强大。（掌声）它们不会让我们成为一个依赖救济的国家，而是让我们敢于承担风险，使这个国家更加伟大。（掌声）

我们的人民依然相信，作为美国人，我们不仅仅对自己承担义务，而且还对子孙后代承担义务。我们将应对气候变化的威胁，因为我们知道，不这么做就是有负于子孙后代的利益。（掌声）有人可能仍然拒绝接受压倒性的科学论断，但没有人能够躲避肆虐的火灾、严重的干旱和更具破坏性的风暴所带来的毁灭性后果。

通往可持续能源的道路漫长且曲折。但是，美国不能拒绝这种转变，我们必须领导这种转变。我们不能把推动创造新就业机会和新行业的技术拱手相让给其他国家，我们必须抓住它所蕴含的机遇。这样，我们才能保持我们的经济活力、保护我们的国家财富——我们的森林与河流、农田与冰峰。这样，我们才能保护上帝托付我们照料的星球。这样，我们将能为建国先贤宣告的理念赋予意义。

我们的人民依然相信，持久的安全与永久的和平不需要靠持续的战争来实现。（掌声）我们英勇的男女军人历经战火考验，能力和勇气举世无双。（掌声）我们的公民们铭记阵亡者，深知自由的代价。他们的牺牲将让我们对那些企图伤害我们的势力永远保持警惕。但是，我们的先辈不仅赢得了战争，也赢得了和平；他们把不共戴天的仇敌转变成我们最可靠的朋友——今天，作为后辈的我们也必须将那些经验在我们这个时代传承下去。

我们的人民今天宣布，最不言而喻的真理——人人生而平等——依然是为我们指引方向的星斗；如同它曾在塞尼卡瀑布城、在塞尔玛、在石墙指引我们的先辈一样；如同它曾指引所有那些知名的、无名的男女公民一样——他们在这片壮观的草坪上留下足迹，聆听一位姓金的牧师说我们不能独自前行，因为我们个人的自由与地球上每个人的自由不可分割。（掌声）