Speak gently; it is better far

请轻声说话，

To rule by love than fear:

爱的力量胜于恐惧的统治；

Speak gently; let no harsh words mar

请轻声说话，

The good we might do here.

勿让刺耳之语成为美德的瑕疵。

Speak gently to the little child;

请对小朋友轻声说话，

Its love be sure to gain;

无疑你将得到他们的爱；

Teach it in accents soft and mild;

教导的音调宜温柔文雅，

It may not long remain.

否则爱就不再存留。

Speak gently to the aged one;

请对长者轻声说话，

Grieve not the care worn heart:

饱经忧患的心不应再感悲伤；

The sands of life are nearly run;

生命的沙漏即将停下，

Let such in peace depart.

让他们平静离场。

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;

请对穷苦之人轻声和蔼说话，

Let no harsh tone be heard;

不让他们听到严苛的音调；

They have enough they must endure,

他们忍受的苦难已够巨大，

Without an unkind word.

即使一个刻薄的字眼也不曾听到。

Speak gently to the erring; know

即使没有无情的话语，

They must have toiled in vain;

他们要忍受的苦难也已够多。

Perhaps unkindness made them so;

也许就是无情的对待让他们把过错犯下，

Oh, win them back again.

噢，把他们再争取回来吧。

Speak gently: it is a little thing

请轻声说话，

Dropped in the heart's deep well;

这微不足道却能深入人心，

The good, the joy, which it may bring,

它可能激发美德，创造欢乐，

Eternity shall tell.

直到永恒不竭不尽。

(George Washington Langford)

（乔治.华盛顿.兰福德）