(来源：老牌的英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

    Hello, everybody.  As 2011 comes to an end and we look ahead to 2012, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

  大家好。在2011年即将结束，2012年即将来临之际，我想祝福所有人有一个快乐和健康的新年。

     The last year has been a time of great challenge and great progress for our country.  We ended one war and began to wind down another.  We dealt a crippling blow to al-Qaeda and made America more secure.  We stood by our friends and allies around the world through natural disasters and revolutions.  And we began to see signs of economic recovery here at home, even as too many Americans are still struggling to get ahead.

对美国来说，过去的一年是拥有巨大挑战和巨大成就的一年。我们结束了一场战争，并开始结束另一场战争。我们沉重打击了“基地”组织，使美国更加安全。在世 界各地发生自然灾难和革命的时候，我们和我们的朋友和盟国站在一起。我们已经能看到美国国内出现了经济复苏的迹象，即便很多美国人仍在艰难度日。

     There's no doubt that 2012 will bring even more change.  And as we head into the New Year, I'm hopeful that we have what it takes to face that change and come out even stronger – to grow our economy, create more jobs, and strengthen the middle class.

毫无疑问，2012年将会带来更多的改变。在我们迈向新年之际，我对我们具备面对改变，经历改变后能够更加强大充满希望，这些改变包括让美国经济增长，创造更多就业机会，并使中产阶级更加壮大。

     I'm hopeful because of what we saw right before Christmas, when Members of Congress came together to prevent a tax hike for 160 million Americans – saving a typical family about $40 in every paycheck.  They also made sure Americans looking for work won't see their unemployment insurance cut off.  And I expect Congress to finish the job by extending these provisions through the end of 2012.

我之所以对此抱有希望，是因为我们看到在圣诞节前，国会议员一起努力避免1.6亿美国人民的税负提高——这为一般家庭在每份工资单上节省了40美元。他们还确保了美国人民在失业时保险不被削减。我期待着国会能把这些条款延长至2012年年底。

    It was good to see Members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans.  But it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate.  Through email and Twitter and over the phone, you let your representatives know what was at stake.  Your lives.  Your families.  Your well-being.  You had the courage to believe that your voices could make a difference.  And at the end of the day, they made all the difference.
     很高兴看到国会议员为数百万美国工人做出了正确的选择，但正是你们在辩论中发声才使之成为可能。你们通过电子邮件、推特、电话让议员们知道事情的利害，这 事关你们的生活，你们的家人和你们的福址。你们有勇气相信自己的声音能够使事情发生改变。在一天即将结束的时候，国会议员们让事情发生了改变。

    More than anything else, you are the ones who make me hopeful about 2012.  Because we've got some difficult debates and some tough fights to come.  As I've said before, we are at a make-or-break moment for the middle class.  And in many ways, the actions we take in the months ahead will help determine what kind of country we want to be, and what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in.
     你们比任何事物更让我对2012年充满希望。因为我们将面临一些困难的辩论和艰难的斗争，正如我以前所说，我们正处在一个对中产阶级而言成败攸关的关键时刻。在许多方面，我们未来几个月的行动将决定我们想要一个什么样的国家，以及我们的子孙将生活在一个怎样的世界里。

     As President, I promise to do everything I can to make America a place where hard work and responsibility are rewarded – one where everyone has a fair shot and everyone does their fair share.  That's the America I believe in.  That's the America we've always known.  And I'm confident that if we work together, and if you keep reminding folks in Washington what's at stake, then we will move this country forward and guarantee every American the opportunities they deserve.

作为总统，我承诺将尽我所能让美国成为一个只要努力工作和尽心尽责就能得到回报的地方，一个所有人都得到公平机遇和回报的地方。这是我所笃信的美国，这是 我们一直以来所知的美国。如果我们并肩协作，如果我们提醒华盛顿人士利害所在，我确信我们将能够使美国前行，并确保所有美国人获得他们应获得的机遇。