The Christmas Guest - Johnny Cash

The Christmas Guest - Johnny Cash (约翰尼·卡什)

It happened one day near December's end
十二月末的一天
Two neighbors called on an old friend
两位邻居去拜访他们的老朋友
And they found his shop so meager and lean
他们发现他的小店那么萧条
Made gay with thousand bows of green
一片绿色显出祥和欢乐
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
老康莱德满脸喜悦地坐着
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
做针线的时候突然停住了
And he said "Old friends at dawn today
他说，我的朋友，今天黎明
When the cock was crowing the night away
公鸡啼鸣时
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
我梦见了上帝
And said "I'm coming your guest to be "
他说，我要去你那做客
So I've been busy with feet astir
所以我像个陀螺似的忙着
Strewing my shop with branches of fern
用杉树枝装饰我的小店
The table is spread and the kettle is shined
桌子铺好了水壶擦亮了
And over the rafters the holly is twined
椽子上的冬青树缠绕好了
Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
现在就等我的主现身
And listen closely so I will hear
侧耳听我能听到
His step as He nears my humble place
他的脚步已临近我的小破屋
And I'll open the door and look on His face
我将开门仰望他
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
然后他的朋友回家了，剩下了康莱德一个人
For this was the happiest day he had known
因为这是他生平最开心的一天
For long since his family had passed away
因为很久以前他的家人都过世了
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day
康莱德度过了许多个伤心的圣诞节
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
但是他知道有上帝做他的圣诞客人
This Christmas would be the dearest and best
这将是最珍贵最美好的圣诞节
So he listened with only joy in his heart
所以他仔细听着，心里满满的都是快乐
And with every sound he would rise with a start
每一点动静他都会一惊站起来
And look for the Lord to be at his door
看看上帝是否在他门口
Like the vision he had had a few hours before
就像几小时之前的梦境
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
所以听到声音他就跑去窗边
But all he could see on the snow covered ground
但是映入眼帘的只是在冰雪覆盖的大地
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
一个穿着破烂鞋子的穷酸乞丐
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn
他衣衫褴褛
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
但是康莱德给触动了他走到门口
And he said "You know your feet must be frozen and sore
对乞丐说，你的脚一定又冷又痛
I have some shoes in my shop for you
我这里有几双鞋子
And a coat that will keep you warmer too "
外套会让你保暖一些
So with grateful heart the man went away
乞丐满心感动地离开了
But Conrad noticed the time of day
但是康莱德看了看时间
And wondered what made the Lord so late
他不明白是什么让尊贵的上帝迟到了
And how much longer he'd have to wait
他还要等多久
When he heard a knock he ran to the door
然后他又一次听到敲门声，他跑去开门
But it was only a stranger once more
但是仍然是一位陌生人
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
是一位戴着黑披肩的佝偻老太太
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back
背着一捆柴火
She asked for only a place to rest
但她只想休息一下
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest
在这个康莱德为上帝准备的地方
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away
她乞求着说，不要赶我走
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day"
让我休息会吧，这是圣诞节
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
康莱德给她煮了一杯热水
And told her to sit at the table and sup
告诉她坐到桌边喝
But after she left he was filled with dismay
她离开后他满心沮丧
For he saw that the hours were slipping away
因为他看到时间分分秒秒溜走
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would
上帝却没有如约而至
Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood
康莱德肯定自己是误会上帝的意思
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
哭声打破了平静
"Please help me and tell me where am I "
救命啊我迷路了
So again he opened his friendly door
他再次打开他友好的大门
And stood disappointed as twice before
失望如前两次
It was only a child who'd wandered away
是个迷路的孩子
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day
在圣诞节这天迷路了
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
康莱德再次心情沉重悲伤
But he knew he should make the little girl glad
但他知道他能让这个小女孩开心
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
他让她进来擦干她的泪
And quieted all her childish fears
让她平静下来不再害怕
Then he led her back to her home once more
然后把她送回了家
But as he entered his own darkened door
当他走进自家漆黑大门时
He knew the Lord was not coming today
他知道上帝今天不会来了
For the hours of Christmas had passed away
因为圣诞节已经过去了
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
他走进房间跪下祈祷
And he said "Dear Lord why did you delay
他说，上帝，你为什么耽搁了
What kept you from coming to call on me
是什么阻止你来做客
For I wanted so much your face to see "
我多想看看你的脸
When soft in the silence a voice he heard
他听到寂静中一个声音轻轻响起
"Lift up your head for I kept my word
抬起头了，我遵守诺言了
Three times my shadow crossed your floor
我的影子三次走过你的地板
And three times I came to your lonely door
我三次来到你冷清的门口
I was the beggar with bruised cold feet
我是冻伤双脚的乞丐
And I was the woman you gave something to eat
我是你给吃的的女人
I was the child on the homeless street
我是迷路的小孩
Three times I knocked and three times I came in
我三次敲门三次进门
And each time I found the warmth of a friend
每一次我都感受到朋友的温暖
Of all the gifts love is the best
爱是最好的礼物
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest
很荣幸做你的圣诞客人