你們的孩子，並不是真的是你們的，
乃是生命為其本身所渴望而降臨的。
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

他們是憑藉你們而來，卻不是從你們而來，
他們雖和你們同在，卻不屬於你們。
They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

你們可以給他們以愛，卻不可以給他們以思想。
因為他們有自己的思想。
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.

你們可以庇蔭他們的身體，卻不能庇蔭他們的靈魂，
因為他們的靈魂，是住在明日之屋，那是你們夢中也不能探訪的。
You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of to-morrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

你們可以努力去模仿他們，卻不能使他們來像你們。
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

因為生命是不能倒流的，也不與昨日一同停留。
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

你們是弓，你們的孩子是從弦上發出的生命之箭矢。
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

文出自於卡里‧紀伯倫（Kahlil Gibran）的《先知（The Prophet）》