《奇異恩典》 (Amazing Grace) 是由英國詩人與牧師約翰紐敦 (John Newton) 填詞，西元 1779 年發表於威廉科伯 (William Cowper）及其他作曲家創作的讚美詩集《奧爾尼詩集》(Olney Hymns)。這首歌是基督徒耳熟能詳的聖歌，作曲者已經不可考，原為蘇格蘭民謠，因早期流行於黑人教會，常被人誤以為是美國傳統歌謠。

《奇異恩典》是約翰紐敦依照親身經歷所寫，乃是他個人的重生經驗，歌詞真摯感人，傳達世人在上帝的慈愛下，可罪得赦免、終獲救贖。

(第一段)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
奇異恩典，何等甜美

That saved a wretch like me.
拯救了我這樣的惡人

I once was lost but now am found.
我曾經迷失，如今已被尋回

Was blind, but now, I see.
我曾經眼盲，如今又能看見

 

(第二段)

Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear.
恩典教我心存敬畏

And Grace, my fears relieved.
恩典讓我釋放恐懼

How precious did that Grace appear
恩典降臨是何等珍貴

The hour I first believed.
在我初信的那個時刻

 

(第三段)

Through many dangers, toils and snares
歷經無數危險、困惑與陷阱

I have already come.
我已安然度過

Twas Grace that brought me safe thus far.
恩典保守我至今

And Grace will lead me home.
恩典將領我回家

 

(第四段)

The Lord has promised good to me
主已經給我美好的應許

His word my hope secures.
祂的話是我希望的切據

He will my shield and portion be
祂將成為我的盾與我的份

As long as life endures.
在我活在這世上的每一刻

 

(第五段)

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
是的，肉體與心靈將要敗壞

And mortal life shall cease.
生命也將會結束

I shall possess within the veil
我卻可在幔內

A life of joy and peace.
享有歡娛與平安的生命

 

(第六段)

The world shall soon dissolve like snow.
世界很快將像雪一樣溶化

The sun refuse to shine.
太陽也將停止照耀

But God, who called me here below,
然而，在地上呼喚我的上帝

Shall be forever mine.
將永世與我同在

 

(第七段)

When we’ve been here ten thousand years
我們聚此萬年之後

Bright shining as the sun.
光芒耀眼猶如太陽

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
我們仍將永世稱頌上帝

Than when we’ve first begun.
一如我們最初頌讚之時

(參考資料)
第七段歌詞需要加以解釋，以下兩段是老美的詮釋。

• THE COMPELLING PROSPECT OF GRACE
  http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=137418
  The opening lines of this final verse are as timeless as the hymn itself: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shinning as the sun…”
  Eternity—it’s a compelling prospect, isn’t it?
  It excites hope and defies understanding.
  If we could envision, just a little, what that world will be like, we would no longer fear death. If our limited minds could manage to hold the briefest glimpse of eternal glory, that vision would change everything about the way we live now. John Newton had some idea of eternity and he had no problem with death. In fact, in his later life Newton’s letters and diary entries looked more and more to the hope of paradise that lay just over the horizon of his lifelong voyage. In 1804, he wrote plainly yet profoundly, “Time, how short! Eternity, how long.” His friends noticed a growing tendency toward morbid humor. He once told a colleague that he was “packed, sealed, and waiting for the post.” He was ready for heaven. While he still possessed life and breath, however, he tended to his beloved sermons and hymns—Amazing Grace among the latter. While the final verse would be penned by another hand, Newton did provide three other seldom heard verses:The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endure

 

• Time is a creation of God, like stars and starfish. When we take our first eager step into that next and higher world, time will be no more. A moment will be as ten thousand years, and ten thousand years as a moment.
  出處: 不詳。

 

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