美国总统林肯的1863年感恩节宣言(中英文)美国总统林肯的1863年感恩节宣言(中英文)建立依靠全能上帝之心和谦卑痛悔之灵是每个国家和个人当尽的责任;他们当存着这样一个坚定的盼望：真诚的忏悔将带来怜悯和宽恕;他们当认识圣经里所宣告的，并被历史所证实的一个至高真理，那就是：尊崇上帝的国家必蒙祝福。
我们都知道按着这位至高者神圣的律法，不管是国家还是个人，我们都本应当受到惩罚和整治。
难道我们不相信这场使土地荒凉、性命失丧的内战之灾是对我们放肆之罪的惩罚吗?作为一个国家、一个民族，我们当悔改在上帝面前。
我们曾经接受过来自天上的丰盛祝福;我们享受了多年的和平和昌盛;我们在人数、财富和国力上的增长都是其他任何的国家所无法相比的。
然而，我们却忘记了上帝。
我们忘记了那曾保守我们和平，那使我们人数加增，又赐予我们财富与力量的恩手，我们被心中的虚假所欺骗，以为所有的这些祝福都来自于我们自己超人的智慧和美德。
我们如此陶醉于不断的成功，沉迷于自我满足，以致不再向那创造我们的上帝祷告。
我认为我们应该做的是：全地美国人民当以庄严、恭敬和感恩的心，同声合一地承认上帝的作为。
因此，我恳请全美各地的每一为公民，包括那些旅居海外的美国人，把十一月的最后一个星期四作为"感恩节"来庆祝，赞美我们那居在天上的仁慈之父。
亚伯拉罕林肯总统Lincoln's 1863Thanksgiving ProclamationLincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation that follows is taken from the collection ofLincoln 's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521.The yearthat is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings offruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantlyenjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, othershave been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot failto penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to theever watchful providence of Almighty God.. In the midst of a civil war ofunequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign Statesto invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with allnations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed,and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict;while that theatre has been greatly contracted bythe advancing armies andnavies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from thefields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested theplough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of oursettlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals,have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadilyincreased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siegeand the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness ofaugmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years withlarge increase of freedom.Nohuman counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these greatthings. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealingwith us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It hasseemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefullyacknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I dotherefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States , andalso those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to setapart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of ThanksgivingandPraise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And Irecommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him forsuch singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitencefor our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care allthose who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentablecivil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore theinterposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and torestore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the fullenjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.Abraham Lincoln-----。
