When I consider how my light is spent,
當細想怎麼度過自己的白日，
E're half my days, in this dark world and wide,
有一半竟是在黑暗處寬廣的世俗渡過
And that one Talent which is death to hide,
而天賦(良知)就隱藏在死疾中
Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent
卻無助地伴隨我，只因我的靈魂已扭曲了!

To serve therewith my Maker, and present [ 5 ]
為要服事我的創造者
My true account, least he returning chide,
且獻上我的真誠，以免受祂的責備!
Doth God exact day labour, light deny'd,
在光明不到的黑暗處，作 神所要的白日的工，
I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
我向來好問原由，但耐心勸阻我沉默以對

That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts, who best [ 10 ]
Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
很快就有神低聲的答覆傳來，說祂不需要人所做的工或才能，
最能背負重軛的人，就是神國中最能服事祂的人

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and waite.
那遍地千萬個隨時任祂所差遣的人
無止息地在地極和海域上待命
他們也服事那些準備好等待服事神的人