好青年的信條
你們立志行事，都是神在你們心裏運行，為要成就祂的美意。
腓立比書第二章13節
華爾特（Howard Arnold Walter, 1883-1918），是二十世紀的青年聖詩作家。
華爾特生在美國康涅提克州，在校就愛詩歌，二十二歲的時候，以優異成績畢業於普林斯頓大學。1906年，隻身赴日本，在東京早稻田大學教授英文一年。少年離家遠遊，慈母難免掛念。
1907年春，他介紹給學生“使徒信經”，提到人生必須有自己的信念和標準；學生頗能夠接受。回到寓所，接到母親來信，勸兒子效法主的榜樣，拒絕試探。他立即寫了這首小詩：“我的信條”（My Creed）寄給遠方的母親，表明心志。母親收信後，知道兒子心中有主，深感欣慰，把他的詩寄給哈潑（Harper's Magazine）雜誌，得接受刊於1907年五月號。刊出後，深獲許多有信仰，有理想的青年人喜愛，讀了都受激勵。
I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
我要真誠莫負人家信任深
我要潔淨因為有人關心
我要剛強人間痛苦才能當
我要壯膽奮鬥才能得勝
我要壯膽奮鬥才能得勝
我要愛人愛敵也愛淪落人
我要施贈心誠義重財輕
我要虛懷不忘我身多弱點
我要向上學主榜樣助人
我要向上學主榜樣助人（劉延芳譯）
1909年，在聚會中，一位衛理公會的信徒匹克（Joseph Yates Peek, 1843-1911），與華爾特相遇。六十六歲的老人家匹克，同小他四十歲的青年竟然談得歡洽。臨別的時候，華爾特給匹克印有“我的信條”卡片。匹克看了深為感動，並哼出了旋律。匹克自己並不會譜曲；但有個好友涂拉（Grant C. Tullar, 1869-1950）是頗有名的聖詩作曲家。匹克把想法告訴朋友：以為配上樂曲必然有助廣為流傳。於是涂拉將匹克心中的旋律配上和聲，譜成樂曲，成為今日常唱的曲調。
華爾特自日本返國後，入神學院就讀，繼往歐洲深造。1910年，任公理會的助理牧師。因為他顯然有青年工作的恩賜，1912年，出任基督教青年會幹事，受派赴印度，在回教徒中間，從事青年事工。
華爾特患有心臟病，在最後一次航往印度前，醫生竭力勸阻，要他早日休養，最多能再活過五年。他一笑置之，堅決的說：“如果我只有五年好活，更該回到印度，努力工作。”
他知道責任要他該去印度，卻沒有活着回來。不過，他並沒有死於心臟病。熱帶的印度，流行病很多；1918年，印度時疫流行，華爾特染疾在那裏去世，得年僅三十五歲。1926年，他家鄉的公理會教會，為他立了一座紀念碑，上面刻着他的“信條”詩。
原作僅有二節。有人可能因為反“信條”，或不喜歡“我要”的話太多，就加了兩節。另有五節的版本，中間第三節據說是出自華爾德給他表兄葛林牧師（Theodore A. Greene）的書信。
大約是劉廷芳在翻譯（只1,2節）的時候，給冠以“青年向上歌”，收入普天頌讚詩集中。
我要真誠
我要真誠莫負人家信任深
我要潔淨因為有人關心
我要剛強人間痛苦才能當
我要壯膽奮鬥才能得勝
我要壯膽奮鬥才能得勝
我要愛人愛敵也愛淪落人
我要施贈心誠義重財輕
我要虛懷不忘我身多弱點
我要向上學主榜樣助人
我要向上學主榜樣助人
我要祈禱繁忙更要多禱告
我要恆心不斷親近父神
我要諦聽父神慈愛微小聲
我要篤信緊步基督後塵
我要篤信緊步基督後塵
因主忠誠對我祂也願信賴
因主聖潔對我祂也關懷
基督堅強一切痛苦祂擔當
向我彰顯至聖大愛無量
向我彰顯至聖大愛無量
我主愛人愛敵也愛孤苦者
祂賜恩惠永不吝嗇施贈
我主謙卑為萬民成為軟弱
我主仰望歡笑博愛扶助
我主仰望歡笑博愛扶助
I Would Be True
I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
I would be prayerful thru each busy moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God;
I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.
For Christ is true, and He it is who trust me;
For Christ is pure, and He it is who cares;
Jesus is strong, and He it is who suffered;
He showed to me, majestic love laid bare;
He showed to me, majestic love laid bare.
He is the Friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
He is the Giver who withholds no gift;
And He is humble, showing God's own weakness;
And He looks up, and laughs, and loves, and lifts;
And He looks up, and laughs, and loves, and lifts.
* Stanzas 4, 5 by J.T. Wenham
