Upon This Rock 的背景是耶穌和他的眾信徒在撒利亞腓立比的一段對話。
耶穌問“人說我人子是誰
他們說,有人說是施洗的約翰。有人說是以利亞。又有人說是耶利米,或是先知裡的一位。
耶穌說,你們說我是誰。西門彼得回答說,你是基督,是永生神的兒子。
歌詞以耶穌基督的口吻寫成,若細細回味便可體會到耶穌的仁慈、信念以及他對眾信徒的期望。
When others see with earthly eyes
Just what they want to see.
You will see the things that never die.
You will know and recognize
By simple child-like faith.
The priceless truth that others will deny.
世人透過世俗之眼看見的
不過是他們渴望看見的光景
而你們2看見的,會永存不滅
若以孩童般單純的信心
你們會知曉、辨認出
那被世人否認的無價真理
(譯注1:這裡的“世人”指的是不信基督的人)
(譯注2:“你們”指的是眾信徒)
When others say I'm just a man
Who likes to dream his dreams.
When others call a miracle a myth
You'll listen for eternity
In moments as they pass
And see with spirit eyes what others miss.
Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom
And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand
And all the powers of hell itself
Shall never more prevail against it
For satan's thrones are built on sinking sand
Upon this rock I'll build my kingdom
And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand
Upon this rock of revelation
I'll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time
Upon this rock
我要把我的國度建造在這磐石4之上5
在這磐石之上,他會萬世長存
陰間的權柄,不能勝過他6
因撒旦的王座是建造在下沉的沙子上
我要把我的國度建造在這磐石之上
在這磐石之上,他會萬世長存
我要在這啟示的磐石上,建造一個強大萬能的國家
在這磐石上他必能經受時間的暴風驟雨
If in a simple capenter
You see the son of God.
If you would choose to lose
When you could win
If you would give your life away for nothing In return,
then you are where My king-dom will begin
若你們在一個普通木匠的身上,看見了上帝之子
若你們在行將取勝之際,願意選擇失利
若你們願犧牲自己的命,不求任何回報
你們便站在我的國度起始之地
(譯注7:“普通木匠”這裡指耶穌,耶穌是木匠之子。)
Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom
And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand
And all the powers of hell itself
Shall never more prevail against it
For satan's thrones are built on sinking sand
Upon this rock I'll build my kingdom
And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand
Upon this rock of revelation
I'll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time
我要把我的國度建造在這磐石之上
在這磐石之上,他會萬世長存
陰間的權柄,不能勝過他
因撒旦的王座是建造在下沉的沙子上
我要把我的國度建造在這磐石之上
在這磐石之上,他會萬世長存
我要在這啟示的磐石上,建造一個強大萬能的國家
在這磐石上他必能經受時間的暴風驟雨
Upon this rock I'll build my kingdom
And on this rock forever it shall stand
Upon this rock of revelation
I'll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time
Upon this rock
I'll build my state upon this rock
upon this rock