Blessings on the hand of women!

祝福女人之手

Angels guard its strength and grace,

永远力量丰沛，恩惠浩厚

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

无论身居显贵宫廷，

Oh, no matter where the place;

还是出身乡村寒舍，

Would that never storms assailed it,

不受风暴侵害

Rainbows ever gently curled;

总被彩虹轻绕

For the hand that rocks the cradle

因为那摇动摇篮之手

Is the hand that rules the world.

是掌控世界之手

Infancy's the tender fountain,

婴孩初如柔弱的泉源

Power may with beauty flow,

力量与美丽从中日渐流露

Mother's first to guide the streamlets,

是母亲，最初引导这股小溪

From them souls unresting grow—

使活泼的灵魂茁壯成长

Grow on for the good or evil,

长成善，或长成恶

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

如阳光泽世，或恶名昭著

For the hand that rocks the cradle

因为那摇动摇篮之手

Is the hand that rules the world.

是掌控世界之手

Woman, how divine your mission

女人，你的使命多么神圣

Here upon our natal sod!

在我们出生之地

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

请保持，呵，保持那糼小的心灵

Always to the breath of God!

向着造物主的圣灵开放

All true trophies of the ages

一切世代真实的成就

Are from mother-love impearled;

都归荣于母爱的珍珠串饰般的累积

For the hand that rocks the cradle

因为那摇动摇篮之手

Is the hand that rules the world.

是掌控世界之手

Blessings on the hand of women!

祝福女人之手

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

父亲儿女们的呼求

And the sacred song is mingled

和神圣的歌声同声共振，

With the worship in the sky—

和天下的祈祷和谐汇流

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

传遍那没有风暴黑暗之地

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

彩虹永挂之宇宙

For the hand that rocks the cradle

因为那摇动摇篮之手

Is the hand that rules the world.

是掌控世界之手

注：2009年5月10日星期日母亲节，携妇将雏到教堂，读到此篇英文诗，特译共赏。

原文最先发表在1865年，以《what rules the world》为题。