"We the People."
“我們合眾國人民”。

Our Constitution begins with those three simple words, words we've come to recognize mean all the people, not just some; words that insist we rise and fall together. That brings me to the fourth, and maybe the most important thing I want to say tonight.
我們的憲法以這三個簡單的詞開始，也是這三個詞讓我們認識到，這里指的是所有人，而不是一部分人；這三個單詞堅定地認為我們應該共進退。這就是我想說的第四點，也可能是今晚我想講的最重要的一點。

The future we want – opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids – all that is within our reach. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates.
我們期盼的未來：每個家庭都享有機遇和安全；生活水平得以提高，以及為孩子們創造一個可持續的、和平的星球，這些都是我們可以實現的。但是，要實現這些期盼，我們必須一起努力。只有經過理性、且富有建設性的辯論，這些期盼才可能實現。

It will only happen if we fix our politics.
要實現這一期盼，我們必須解決政治問題。

A better politics doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. This is a big country, with different regions and attitudes and interests. That's one of our strengths, too. Our Founders distributed power between states and branches of government, and expected us to argue, just as they did, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and the imperatives of security.
更好的政治形態并不意味著意見始終統一。美國是一個大國，有不同的地區，不同的看法，不同的利益。這也是我們的優勢之一。開國先驅們將權力分配給各個州，各政府部門，希望我們像他們一樣進行辯論，探討政府的規模和形態，探討貿易和外交關系，探討自由的含義和安全的必要性。

But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens. It doesn't work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice, or that our political opponents are unpatriotic. Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise; or when even basic facts are contested, and we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get attention. Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn't matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest.
但民主確實需要公民之間的信任紐帶。如果我們認為與自己觀點相左的人都心懷惡意，或者認為我們的政敵都不愛國，那民主就無法實現。如果不愿意妥協，連最基本的事實都存在爭議，而我們只聽那些贊同的聲音，那么民主就會停滯不前。如果只有最極端的聲音受到重視，那我們的公共生活就會衰落。最重要的是，當人民大眾覺得自己的呼聲無關緊要，而整個社會體制被有錢、有權或者個別人的利益所操控時，民主就將崩潰。

Too many Americans feel that way right now. It's one of the few regrets of my presidency – that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. There's no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.
目前，很多美國人都有這種感受。這是我總統任期內的幾件憾事之一?，各黨派之間的積怨和猜疑并未減弱，而是變得更深。毫無疑問，如果具備林肯或羅斯福那樣的才能，可能黨派之間的嫌隙會調和得好一些，我保證，在我任職期間，我會不斷努力，爭取做到更好。

But, my fellow Americans, this cannot be my task – or any President's – alone. There are a whole lot of folks in this chamber who would like to see more cooperation, a more elevated debate in Washington, but feel trapped by the demands of getting elected. I know; you've told me. And if we want a better politics, it's not enough to just change a Congressman or a Senator or even a President; we have to change the system to reflect our better selves.
但是，美國同胞們，這不僅僅是我的責任，也不僅僅是某位總統的責任。在座的當中，有不少人期盼在更多方面相互合作，期盼在華盛頓有更高層次的辯論，但卻因為受到選舉利益的羈絆而無法做到。我知道這種情況，聽你們說過。如果我們想優化政治形態，僅換掉一個國會議員或參議員，甚至換掉一位總統是不夠的，我們必須改變整個體制，來展現更好的自己。

We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around. We have to reduce the influence of money in our politics, so that a handful of families and hidden interests can't bankroll our elections – and if our existing approach to campaign finance can't pass muster in the courts, we need to work together to find a real solution. We've got to make voting easier, not harder, and modernize it for the way we live now. And over the course of this year, I intend to travel the country to push for reforms that do.
我們要取消劃分國會選區的做法，因為劃分選區后，政客們會自己去選擇選民，而不是讓選民選擇他們。我們必須降低金錢對政治的影響，這樣就可以防止少數家族和幕后利益集團用資金影響選舉。如果關于競選資金的現行辦法未能獲得法院通過，我們就要共同努力，尋求真正的解決方案。我們要讓投票更容易，而不是更難，我們應順應現在的生活方式，使投票方式現代化。今年，我打算走遍全國，來推進這些改革。

But I can't do these things on my own. Changes in our political process – in not just who gets elected but how they get elected – that will only happen when the American people demand it. It will depend on you. That's what's meant by a government of, by, and for the people.
但僅憑我一人之力，是無法做到這些的。政治進程的變革，不是改變誰當選，而是改變當選的方式。只有美國民眾要求進行變革時，變革才會發生。這是由你們決定的。這就是“民有、民治、民享政府”的真正含義。

What I'm asking for is hard. It's easier to be cynical; to accept that change isn't possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don't matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, or allow another economic disaster, or roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure. As frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don't look like us, or pray like us, or vote like we do, or share the same background.
我所提出的要求絕非易事。相比而言，變得憤世嫉俗，認為變革不可能發生、政治已經無藥可救，并且認定自己的呼聲和行動毫無意義，這些事情更容易做到。但是如果我們現在放棄，那我們也放棄了更加美好的未來。擁有金錢和權力的人會在更大程度上左右重大決定，可能是將年輕士兵送往前線，可能是批準會引起災難的經濟政策，也可能是為了維持控制權，駁回歷代美國人民為之奮斗犧牲的平等權和投票權。如果這樣的倒行逆施持續下去，又會有人催促我們回到部落時代，讓那些與我們長相不同，信仰不同，選舉方式不同，背景不同的同胞當他們的替罪羊。

We can't afford to go down that path. It won't deliver the economy we want, or the security we want, but most of all, it contradicts everything that makes us the envy of the world.
我們不能選擇那條道路，因為路的盡頭沒有我們追求的經濟繁榮，沒有社會安定，最重要的是，無法讓我們成為如今這樣令世人羨慕的國家。

So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. To stay active in our public life so it reflects the goodness and decency and optimism that I see in the American people every single day.
我的美國同胞們，無論你信仰什么，無論你支持一黨制或無黨制，美國的未來掌握在你們手中，需要你們自愿履行好自己作為公民的義務。你們要參與選舉；你們要敢于發聲；你們要為他人，尤其是弱勢群體，爭取權利，要清楚知道我們能在這里就是因為有人在某個地方支持著我們。你們要積極參與公共生活，讓美國人民的善良、禮貌以及樂觀滲透每個角落，就像我每天接觸到的美國民眾一樣。

It won't be easy. Our brand of democracy is hard. But I can promise that a year from now, when I no longer hold this office, I'll be right there with you as a citizen – inspired by those voices of fairness and vision, of grit and good humor and kindness that have helped America travel so far. Voices that help us see ourselves not first and foremost as black or white or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born; not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans first, bound by a common creed. Voices Dr. King believed would have the final word – voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love.
這并不是一件容易的事。我們的民主道路也很艱難。但是，我能保證，一年之后，我已不再是美國總統，我將和你們一樣，是一個普通的美國公民，那些曾經幫助美國前進的公平與遠見之聲、堅韌之聲，以及幽默與和善之聲，也會讓我倍受鼓舞。這些聲音告訴我們，每個人的身份，無論黑人還是白人，無論亞裔還是拉丁裔，無論性取向如何，無論是移民還是土生土長的美國人，無論是民主黨還是共和黨，我們首先都是美國人，并且有著共同的信念。用馬丁?路德?金的話來總結就是：不靠武裝發聲的真理以及無條件的愛。

They're out there, those voices. They don't get a lot of attention, nor do they seek it, but they are busy doing the work this country needs doing.
這些人，這些聲音一直都在。寂靜無聲，不求關注，但卻一直在為這個國家奔忙。

I see them everywhere I travel in this incredible country of ours. I see you. I know you're there. You're the reason why I have such incredible confidence in our future. Because I see your quiet, sturdy citizenship all the time.
在美國這片熱土上，我所到之處都能看到這么一群美國人的身影。我看到了你們所有人，我知道你們都是其中的一員。正因為有你們，我才能如此自信于美國的未來。因為我知道一直有著默默無聞，堅定勇敢的美國公民為美國的未來奮斗。

I see it in the worker on the assembly line who clocked extra shifts to keep his company open, and the boss who pays him higher wages to keep him on board.
有一位在裝配流水線上工作的工人，每天加班加點以確保公司正常運營，而他的老板也會給他加薪，讓他繼續堅守崗位。

I see it in the Dreamer who stays up late to finish her science project, and the teacher who comes in early because he knows she might someday cure a disease.
有一個女孩有著自己的科學夢想，為完成科學項目徹夜不休，而她的老師會提前進教室給她上課，因為他知道，總有一天她會成功發現某種治療疾病的良方。

I see it in the American who served his time, and dreams of starting over – and the business owner who gives him that second chance. The protester determined to prove that justice matters, and the young cop walking the beat, treating everybody with respect, doing the brave, quiet work of keeping us safe.
有一位美國人服完刑期，想要重新開始，而有位老板給了他第二次開始人生的機會；抗議者希望彰顯社會公平正義；年輕的警官在街上巡查，尊重他人，兢兢業業，默默守護我們的安全。

I see it in the soldier who gives almost everything to save his brothers, the nurse who tends to him 'til he can run a marathon, and the community that lines up to cheer him on.
有個士兵為救自己同胞不惜一切，身受重傷；有位護士悉心照料他，直至他痊愈參加馬拉松；而所在社區的人紛紛為他加油。

It's the son who finds the courage to come out as who he is, and the father whose love for that son overrides everything he's been taught.
有這么個孩子勇敢地做自己，敢于出柜，而深愛他的父親也會放棄自己的舊觀念繼續愛他。

I see it in the elderly woman who will wait in line to cast her vote as long as she has to; the new citizen who casts his for the first time; the volunteers at the polls who believe every vote should count, because each of them in different ways know how much that precious right is worth.
有一位老婦人，只要自己還有選舉權，她都會親自排隊去投上一票；有位美國新公民第一次高興地投上自己的選票；選舉站的志愿者深信每一票都很重要，因為他們都懂得這投票權的分量有多重。

That's the America I know. That's the country we love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That's what makes me so hopeful about our future. Because of you. I believe in you. That's why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong.
這就是我所認識的美國。這就是我們熱愛著的國家。人們明辨是非，慷慨善良，并且樂觀地相信，不靠武器發聲的真理和無條件的愛必將主導這個世界。因此我才如此堅信美國的未來。因為有你們，我相信你們。因為美國的強大，我才能如此自信地站在這里。

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
謝謝，上帝保佑你們，上帝保佑美利堅合眾國。

英文來源：medium.com
譯者：劉蒙霏 陶鑫黎 史敏 孫慧 張文林 王怡 金小薇 方正
審校&編輯：馬文英 陳丹妮 杜娟