Traditional Scottish Songs
- Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
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 fear relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.Through many dangers, toils and snares,
We have already come.
'Twas 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.
The last verse (above) in the popular version of the song was in fact not written by Newton but was added some years later by an unknown author. But here are two lesser-known verses by Newton:
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.And when this heart and flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of health and peace.
Here is a translation of the words of Amazing Grace into Scottish Gaelic. I am grateful to Ruth Nettles for these verses:
O Miorbhail gràis! nach breagh'an ceòl;
'S e lorg mi 's mi air chall,
Air seachdran dorch', gun neart, gun treòir,
'S a dh'fhosgail sùilean dall.'S e gràs thug eòlas dhomh air in'fheum;
'S e gràs thug saors'is sìth;
'S cha cheannaicheadh òr a' chruinne-chè
Chiad-là bha fios nam chrìdh'.Tro iomadh cunnart's trioblaid chruaidh
Thug E gu sàbhailt mi.
An gràs a shaor bhon bhàs le buaidh
Chan fhàg's cha trèig gu sìor.San dachaigh bhuan gun uair gun tìm,
'S deich mìle bliadhn' mar là,
Cha sguir an ceòl's chan fhàs iad sgìth
A'seiinn a chaoidh mun ghràs.
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
