A Psalm of Life
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

　I
　Tell me not, in mournful numbers,　 别用悲伤诗句对我吟唱；
　Life is but an empty dream!人生不过是场空虚的梦！
　For the soul is dead that slumbers,　 　 因为灵魂沉睡等于死亡，
　And things are not what they seem.　 　事物本质与其表象不同。 

　II
　Life is real—life is earnest— 　 人生皆真实人生非虚无！
　And the grave is not its goal: 　 最终的归宿决不是坟地
　Dust thou art, to dust returnest, “你本是尘土必归尘土，”
　Was not spoken of the soul. 　   这话所说的并不是灵魂。
　
　III
　Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 我们命定的道路和终点，
　Is our destined end or way; 既不是享乐也不是受苦；
　But to act, that each to-morrow   而是行动，让每个明天
　Find us farther than to-day. 　    都觉超越今天在迈新步。

　IV
　Art is long, and time is fleeting,   艺海无涯时光却眨眼逝，
　And our hearts, though stout and brave,  任我们的心勇敢又坚强，
　Still, like muffled drums, are beating 却仍像蒙住的鼓击。
　Funeral marches to the grave.  哀乐送我们步步向坟场。

　V
　In the world’s broad field of battle, 在世界角逐的广阔战场，
　In the bivouac of Life,    在人生征途的露宿营地，
　Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 别像被驱赶的哑口牛羊！
　Be a hero in the strife! 要做个英雄去奋斗搏击！ 

　VI
　Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!  别指望未来,不管多可爱！
　Let the dead Past bury its dead!  让死的过去把死的埋葬！
　Act—act in the glorious Present! 快行动在活生生的现在！
　Heart within, and God o’er head! 　 胸怀一颗心头顶有上苍！ 

　VII
　Lives of great men all remind us   伟人的生平向我们昭示；
　We can make our lives sublime,　 　  我们能使一生变得辉煌，
　And, departing, leave behind us　 　而我们一朝告别，都是
　Footsteps on the sands of time. 　 　将脚印留在时间沙滩上； 

　VIII
　Footsteps, that, perhaps another, 脚印！也许有别的弟兄，
　Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, 　    航行在人生严峻的海上，
　A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 　 当沉船遇难而惨遭不幸，
　Seeing, shall take heart again.　  看到这脚印信心又增长。 

　IX
　Let us then be up and doing, 就让我们奋发精神抖擞，
　With a heart for any fate; 敞开胸怀迎接任何命运；
　Still achieving, still pursuing, 不断地获得不断地追求，
　Learn to labor and to wait. 　 学会苦干还要待机而进。