Another beautiful and theologically deep Swahili hymn. I did not do the translation and verses two through four do not have English translation. If someone can translate it for me, that would be great!
Cha Kutumaini Sina
I Have No Hope
Kwake Yesu nasimama
Through Jesus I shall stand
Ndiye mwamba, ni salama
For He is the solid Rock
Ndiye mwamba, ni salama
For He is the solid Rock
Ndiye mwamba, ni salama
For He is the solid Rock (x2)
1. Cha kutumaini sina
I have no hope
Ila damu yake Bwana
But the blood of the Lord
Sina wema wakutosha
I don’t have righteousness in me
Dhambi zangu kuziosha
To wash my sins away (x2)
Repeat Chorus
2. Njia yangu iwe ndefu
Yeye hunipa wokovu
Mawimbi yakinipiga
Nguvu zake ndiyo nanga (x2)
Repeat Chorus
3. Damu yake na sadaka
Nategemea daima
Yote chini yakiisha
Mwokozi atanitosha (x2)
Repeat Chorus
4. Nikiitwa hukumuni
Rohoni nina amani
Nikivikwa haki yake
Sina hofu mbele zake (x2)
Repeat Chorus
The hymn is a swahili version of My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.
Thanks, Nathan. Do you know what the literal translations of the untranslated verses is? I know it is roughly “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” but I’ve heard it is not exactly the same. Do you know if this is true?
Verses 2 to 4:
2. Njia yangu iwe ndefu
My way will be short
Yeye hunipa wokovu
He always gives me salvation
Mawimbi yakinipiga
If the waves hit me
Nguvu zake ndiyo nanga (x2)
His strength is an anchor
Repeat Chorus
3. Damu yake na sadaka
His blood and sacrifice
Nategemea daima
I depend on continuously
Yote chini yakiisha
If all below ceases
Mwokozi atanitosha (x2)
The savior will be enough for me
Repeat Chorus
4. Nikiitwa hukumuni
If I am called into judgment
Rohoni nina amani
In my soul I have peace
Nikivikwa haki yake
If I am dressed (covered) in his righteousness
Sina hofu mbele zake (x2)
I do not have fear in front of him (i.e. in his presence)
I first heard this awesome song in a Catholic hospital in Tanzania. I am not a native Swahili speaker but I did take Swahili lessons in Tz and in college.
Njia yangu iwe ndefu
My way will be short
actually it means:
“(Even if) my way would be long”, not “my way will be short”
Thanks for this translation!
Tonight we have our presentation about our journey through Kenya.
We want to sing this song and I was looking for a right translation.
God bless you.
Slight corrections…
Cha Kutumaini sina
(I have nothing else to hope in)
Ila damu yake Bwana
(But the blood of the Lord)
Sina wema wa kutosha
(I do not have enough righteousness)
Dhambi zangu kuziosha
(To wash away my sins)
**Njia yangu iwe ndefu
(Though my journey be long)
WOW… Thank you for this page. You’ve filled in some gaps for me. I love this song.
Here’s my translation… Some of the phrases are different but some the same.
Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xGvQN24E6M
Chakutumaini sina – I have no hope
Ila damu yake Yesu – But by the blood of Jesus
Sina wema wa kutosha – I’m not good enough
Dhambi zangu kuziosha – to wash my sins
Kwake Yesu nasimama – For Jesus is the rock
Ndiye mwamba ni salama – I stand safe
Ndiye mwamba ni salama – I stand safe
Ndiye mwamba ni salama – I stand safe
Nikiitwa hukumuni – If I am called into judgment
Rohoni nina amani – In my soul I have peace
Nikivikwa haki yake – If I am dressed (covered) in his righteousness
Sina hofu mbele zake – I do not have fear in front of him (i.e. in his presence)
Damu yako na ahadi – The promise by your blood
Nategemea daima – I depend on continuously
Yote chini yakiisha – If all below ceases
Mwokozi atanitosha – The savior will be enough for me
Njia yangu iwe ndefu – My way will be short
Ye hunipa wokovu – He always gives me salvation
Mawimbi yakinipiga – If the waves hit me
Nguvu ndizo nanga – His strength is an anchor
Blessings!
O beautiful hymn
Do you know the Swahili lyrics to “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”? All I remember from being in Mombasa as a child is the line “Ila damu yake Yesu”. Also: what hymn goes “Atuita, Njo ninyo te, wapendwa kari bu ni, Nyumba ni, atuita, njo ninyo te, swenye mje msuri, wababa”