Amazing Grace 《奇异恩典》

作词：John Newton (作于1779年)

作曲：James P. Carrell, David S. Clayton (作于1831)

约翰纽顿(John Newton,1725-1807)

       约翰牛顿曾经贩卖黑奴，无恶不作，后来反而沦落非洲。1747年在一次暴风雨的海上，他蒙上帝的拯救，于是决心痛改前非，奉献一生，宣扬上帝的福音，成为19世纪伟大的传道人。去世之前，他为自己写了墓志铭：“约翰牛顿牧师，从前是个犯罪作恶不信上帝的人，曾在非洲作奴隶之仆。但借着主耶稣基督的丰盛怜悯，得蒙保守，与神和好，罪得赦免，并蒙指派宣传福音事工。”这首诗歌就是他一生得拯救的见证。
最近一期「今日美国」杂志的问卷显示纽顿在诗歌方面的见证，因为「奇异恩典」是全美国人最喜爱的一苜诗歌。
奇异恩典何等甘甜，我罪已得赦免，
前我失丧今被寻回，瞎眼今得看见。

                         amazing grace, how sweet the sound
                       that saved a wretch like me.
                i once was lost but now i’m found,
                        was blind but now i see.
               t’was grace that taught my heart to fear
                       and grace my fear relieved
               how precious did that grace appear,
                       the hour i first believed.
               through many dangers, toils and snares
                        we have already come
              t’was grace that brought us safe thus far
                        and grace will lead us home.
               when we’ve been there ten thousand years
                       bright shining as the sun;
               we’ve no less days to sing god’s praise
                       than when we first begun.