Amazing Grace (Learning by Singing)

Amazing Grace is a well-known Christian hymn. The melody is believed to be a Scottish folk song in origin. The lyrics were written by John Newton.

John Newton once was a slave trader, until the night of a great storm that tossed his slave ship in the high waters. He began to pray and repented of his sin. He saw the Amazing Grace of God. He turned from his sin of the slave trade and began to walk a life of service to God.

He wrote down many well-known hymns. One of them is “faith’s Review and Expectation”, which came to be known by its opening, “Amazing Grace”. The lyrics tell his story.

Amazing Grace

John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace¹, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch² like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils³ and snares⁴
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures⁵.
He will my shield and portion⁶ be,
As long as life endures⁷.

Yea, when this flesh⁸ and heart shall fail,
And mortal⁹ life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil¹⁰,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less¹¹ days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

1 grace /ɡres/

►God’s kindness that is shown to people

2 wretch /rɛtʃ/

►Someone that you feel sorry for

3 toil /tɔɪl/

►Hard unpleasant work done over a long period.

4 snare /snɛr/

►= trap

5 secure /sɪkjur/

►To get or achieve something that will be permanent, especially after a lot of effort.

6 portion /porʃən/

►Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you).

7 endure /ɪnˋdjur/

►To remain alive or continue to exist for a long time.

8 flesh /flɛʃ/

►The physical human body, as opposed to the mind or spirit.

9 mortal /ˋmɔrtl/

►Human -- used especially when comparing humans with gods, spirits etc.

10 within tne veil

►The Most Holy Place

11 no less

►Used to emphasize that a person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive.

Listen to Hayley Westenra.

Watch the story of Amazing Grace.

A newer version of Amazing Grace was sung In the movie Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

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.

‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

My chains are gone.

I've been set free.

My God, my Savior¹² has ransomed¹³ me.
And like a flood ¹⁴ His mercy¹⁵ reigns¹⁶.
Unending love, Amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be.
As long as life endures.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow.
The sun forbear ¹⁷ to shine.
But God, Who called me here below ¹⁸.
Will be forever mine.
Will be forever mine.
You are forever mine.

12 savior /ˋsevjɚ/

►Someone who saves you from a difficult or dangerous situation.

12 Savior /ˋsevjɚ/

►Jesus Christ

13 ransom /ˋrænsəm/

►To pay an amount of money so that someone who is being held as a prisoner is set free.

14 flood /flʌd/

►A very large number of things or people that arrive at the same time.

15 mercy /ˋmɝsɪ/

►A disposition to be kind and forgiving.

16 reign /ren/

►If a feeling or quality reigns, it exists strongly for a period of time.

17 forbear /fɔrˋbɛr/

►To not do something you could or would like to do because you think it is wiser not to.

18 below /bəˋlo/

►Refers to the Earth or the ground.

Listen to Chris Tomlin.