anyway, 準備的歌還是送給你，反正既稱作Sting，總不會不喜歡聽歌的~~

我知主掌握明天
　　　　　　　by Ira F. Stanphill


一 我不知明日將如何，每時刻安然度過；
I don't know about tomorrow,I just live from day to day.

我不求明天的陽光，因明天或轉陰暗。
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,For it's skies may turn to gray.

我不為將來而憂慮，因我知主所應許；
I don't worry o'er the future,For I know what Jesus said,

今天我必與主同行，祂深知前途光景。
And today I'll walk beside Him,For He knows what is ahead.


（副）許多事明天將臨到，許多事難以明瞭；
Many things about tomorrow,I don't seem to understand;

但我知主掌握明天，祂必要領我向前。
But I know Who holds tomorrow,And I know Who holds my hand.



二 我不知明日將如何，或遭遇貧苦飢餓；
I don't know about tomorrow,It may bring me poverty;

那看顧麻雀的恩主，必隨我時刻看顧。
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,Is the One Who stands by me.

我前程雖經歷水火，或快樂或有災禍；
And the path that be my portion,May be through the flame or flood,

但我主引導我路途，寶血將我抹塗。
But His presence goes before me,And I'm covered with His blood.


（副）許多事明天將臨到，許多事難以明瞭；
Many things about tomorrow,I don't seem to understand;

但我知主掌握明天，祂必要領我向前。
But I know Who holds tomorrow,And I know Who holds my hand.



三 每一步越走越光明，像攀登黃金階梯；
Every step is getting brighter as the golden stairs I climb.

每重擔越挑越輕省，每朵雲披上銀衣。
Every burden's getting lighter; every cloud is silver-lined.

在那裡陽光常普照，在那裡沒有眼淚；
There the sun is always shining; there no tear will dim the eye.

在美麗彩虹的盡頭，眾山嶺與天相連。
At the ending of the rainbow where the mountains touch the sky.


（副）許多事明天將臨到，許多事難以明瞭；
Many things about tomorrow,I don't seem to understand;

但我知主掌握明天，祂必要領我向前。
But I know Who holds tomorrow,And I know Who holds my hand.





這首聖詩的曲和詞都是史丹斐（Ira F. Stanphill, 1914-1994）所作。 他是廿世紀著名的福音詩歌作家，共寫六百首聖詩，如「十架有地方」（Room at the Cross for You），「小山上的居所」（Mansion over the Hilltop），「跟隨我」（Follow Me）等都是現代流行的聖詩。

史丹斐生於新墨西哥州，父母都愛好音樂，熱心教會聖樂事工。 他在十二歲在神召會決志奉獻事主。 他學了一年鋼琴，就能彈風琴，四弦琴，及拉手風琴。 十七歲時為教會的青年團契作了第一首詩歌。 他隨同道家巡道，負責聖樂事工。 廿二歲開始講道，先後在德州，賓州及佛州神召會牧會；他也是歌唱道家，足跡遍及美國及四十多國家。

一個蒙恩得救的基督徒，不能確保人生是坦途，甚至要面臨人間的殘酷。史丹斐的聖詩在半世紀內激勵了千萬人，但當年他卻無法解脫。 他曾試圖把自已切身的痛苦、心意及需要，放在 神前。 他的妻子移情別戀，攜獨子離他而去； 二人離婚後，他到處受人指責，流言蜚語，使他無辜受害，十分難堪，也有人認為他離婚的身份不配為 神工作，他默然無語，不為自已申辯。 他不願毀婚誓，再三地寬恕他妻子，願與她和好未果。

史丹斐年近五十時，在德州南部一大教會事奉，並執教於當地著名的音樂學校。 他在教會中與一位年輕愛主的姊妹相戀。 他知道自已不能再婚，勸她另擇他人，自己則專心音樂事工。 但思念之情日深，許多次他想放棄事奉而再婚。 此時他前妻不檢的行為已眾所周知，大家對他深表同情和諒解，但他自己無法釋懷。 有一日他在駕車途中，內心又大起掙扎，他為自己的不幸而悲哀，深陷沮喪絕望中，他哼曲感嘆未來，倏忽感到 神與他步步同行，抵家後他即刻在鋼琴上奏出「我知誰掌管明天」，心中遂得釋放。 數月後，他前妻車禍喪生，他終於得與所愛的人，建立美滿的新生活。

轉自http://666devil.blog.163.com/blog/static/56043834200823010285335/



　　Ira F. Stanphill還有一首歌--Mansion Over The Hilltop, Elvis演唱的版本如下:





Mansion Over The Hilltop
Words and music by Ira F. Stanphill


I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold;
But in that city where the ransomed will shine,
I want a gold one that's silver-lined.

Chorus
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we'll never grow old;
And someday yonder we will never more wander,
But walk the streets that are purest gold.
Tho' often tempted, tormented and tested
And, like the prophet, my pillow a stone,
And tho' I find here no permanent dwelling,
I know He'll give me a mansion my own.


Chorus
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we'll never grow old;
And someday yonder we will never more wander,
But walk the streets that are purest gold.
Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely,
I'm not discouraged, I'm heaven bound;
I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city,
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.


Chorus
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we'll never grow old;
And someday yonder we will never more wander,
But walk the streets that are purest gold.


John 14:2,3

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.


這背後也有一個故事:http://www.namethathymn.com/hymn-lyrics-detective-forum/index.php?a=vtopic&t=3373

Hi Abraham,

I did some digging, and found this excerpt from a blog by Mike Baker (www.ourdailywalk.org)

"A great song we sing is “Mansion Over The Hilltop,” by Ira Stamphill. His inspiration for this story came from a preacher in Dallas, TX, by the name of Gene Martin. Here is his story.

A man of considerable means, facing imminent bankruptcy, took a driving trip through a rural part of the country. Here, one particular house caught his attention. It was badly in need of paint and repairs of every kind. Most of the windows had oil paper to replace the broken glass. Parts of the roof and shingles were missing. He wondered how the house was still standing. Out front, playing in the yard, was a young girl about 8 or 9, who was poorly dressed. The traveler felt an urge to stop and talk. During the conversation, he mentioned how sorry he was that the young lady had to live in such poor surroundings. The young girl replied, “Why, haven’t you heard? My daddy just inherited a fortune and he’s building us a mansion just over that hill over there. Don’t know when it will be done, but I won’t have to live in this house forever.”

Here is the first verse and chorus of that song.

I’m satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold;
But in that city where the ransomed will shine,
I want a gold one that’s silver lined.

I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop,
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old;
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk the streets that are purest gold.

Most of us will never live in a mansion on earth, but we are promised a wonderful home in heaven if we remain obedient to God’s will. Won’t it be wonderful there?"

God bless,
Steve