Build me a son, a lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
啊，上帝，请请我造就这样一个儿子，他将坚强足以认识自己的弱点，勇敢得足以面对恐惧，在遇到正当的挫折时能够昂首而不卑躬屈膝，在胜利时能谦逊而不趾高气扬。
请给我造就这样一个儿子，他不会用愿望代替行动，将牢记你的教诲――认识自己是认识世界的奠基石。
我祈求，请不要把他引上平静安逸的道路，而要把他置于困难和挑战的考验和激励之下，让他学会在暴风雨中挺立，让他学会对那些失败者富于怜悯。