1.Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when his afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

2. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee-and that to know himself is the foundation of knowledge.

3. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.

4. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

5. Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, and never forget the past.

6. And after all these things are his, add, I pray enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”

中文翻译：

1、主啊，恳请这样塑造我的儿子；使他强于自知他软弱之处；恐惧时勇于正视自己；诚实受挫时自豪不屈；胜利顺境时谦逊温情。

2、恳请这样塑造我的儿子：使他不仅能胸怀希望，而且能付诸行动；使他能够感知您的至圣；使他了解自知之明是一切知识的基石。

3、恳请不要把他引入贪图安逸、舒适的歧途，而使他能够在困难及挑战的压力和督促之下奋勇前进。

4、在此请让他学会在暴风雨中屹立不屈，同时请让他学会对受到挫折的人给予理解和同情。

5、恳请为我培养一个心地清明、目标高远的儿子，使他成为一个能责人之心责己的人，一个前事不忘后事之师的人。

6、除此之外，还请求您赐于他一点幽默感，使他既严肃又不失活泼。凭着这种幽默感，让他了解真正的伟大是平凡，真正的智慧是宽广的心胸，真正的力量是柔和。那么，我、他的父亲，才敢默默自许“我这辈子没有白活。”