Prendre un enfant [English translation]

Taking a child by the hand (I prefer 'taking' to 'to take')

to lead it to the future, (lit.: tomorrow)

to give it confidence in its stride,

taking a child for a king.

Taking a child in your arms

and - for the first time -

to dry your tears, overwhelmed (lit.: choked) with joy

taking a child in your arms

Taking a child in your heart

to comfort its sorrows

very gently, without talking, without reluctance

taking a child in your heart (here's a subtle nuance: it's 'par' in the first line, and 'sur' here, but I don't understand the purpose of these prepositions)

Taking a child in your arms

and (lit.: but) for the first time

shedding tears, overwhelmed by joy

taking a child in your arms

Taking a child by the hand

Et lui chanter des refrains

Pour qu'il s'endorme à la tombée du jour

Prendre un enfant par l'amour

Prendre un enfant comme il vient

Et consoler ses chagrins

Vivre sa vie des années, puis soudain

Prendre un enfant par la main

and, looking all the way to the end [of the road]

taking a child as your own.