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Spoken version
A recorded reading of “Ithemba (Faith)”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
Ohhh… ithemba lami, (Ohhh… my faith,) Bambelela ezulwini! (Hold on to heaven!) I know You walk beside me, Ngiyazi, unami… (I know You are with me…) Through the storm and through the fire, Ngiyohlala ngik’themba. (I will always trust You.) Bambelela! (Hold on!) Sikhanyisele! (Shine on us!) Ngoba unguNkulunkulu, (Because You are God,) Ungiphethe! (You carry me!) Ohhh ithemba lami, Lingihola endleleni! (It leads me on the path!) Ohhh amandla akho, Awangishiyi, angiqinisa! (It never leaves me, it strengthens me!) I won’t be shaken, I won’t fall, Ngoba wena unami. (Because You are with me.) When I call, You hear my voice, Ngiyaz’ angilahliwe! (I know I am not forsaken!) Sithi bambelela! (We say hold on!) Ngoba uyangiphethe! (Because You carry me!) Ngithi bambelela! (I say hold on!) Ngoba uyangigcina! (Because You keep me!) Ohhh… ithemba lami… (Ohhh… my faith…) Bambelela ezulwini… (Hold on to heaven…)
Alternative version
Ohhh… ithemba lami, (Ohhh… my faith,) Bambelela ezulwini! (Hold on to heaven!) Ngiyazi, unami, (I know He is with me,) Ngihamba ngothando lwakhe. (I walk with His love.) Amanzi angangigcwalisa, (The waters may try to drown me,) Kodw’ angizukwesaba! (But I will not be afraid!) Ngithandaza nsuku zonke, (I pray every day,) Izinyembezi zami ziyawa. (My tears fall.) Uyangizwa, uyangiqonda, (He hears me, He understands me,) Ngiyamlandela, angilahli. (I follow Him, He does not forsake me.) Bambelela! (Hold on!) Sikhanyisele! (Shine on us!) Siphethe uThixo lapha! (We carry God here!) Ohhh ithemba lami, (Ohhh, my faith,) Lingihola endleleni! (It leads me on the path!) Ohhh amandla akhe, (Ohhh, His power,) Awangishiyi, angiqinisa! (He does not leave me, He strengthens me!) Angikhathali, angibuyi emuva, (I do not grow weary, I do not turn back,) Ngibambe izwi lami ngokuqina. (I hold onto my word with strength.) Isandla sakhe siphakamisa, (His hand lifts me up,) Izitha zami ziyaphela. (My enemies fade away.) Ngizohamba, angizukwesaba, (I will walk, I will not fear,) Ukukhanya kwami kuyakhanya! (My light shines brightly!) Ngohlala, ngithandaze, (I will stay, I will pray,) Kuze kube phakade! (Until forever!) Sithi bambelela! (We say hold on!) Ngoba uyangiphethe! (Because He carries me!) Ngithi bambelela! (I say hold on!) Ngoba uyangigcina! (Because He keeps me!) Ohhh… ithemba lami… (Ohhh… my faith…) Bambelela ezulwini… (Hold on to heaven…)
Lyrics
Ohhh… ithemba lami, Bambelela ezulwini! (Hold on to heaven!) I know You walk beside me, Ngiyazi, unami… (I know You are with me…) Through the storm and through the fire, Ngiyohlala ngik’themba. (I will always trust You.) [Call] Bambelela! — [Response] Hold on! [Call] Sikhanyisele! — [Response] Shine on us! [Call] Ngoba unguNkulunkulu, — [Response] Because You are God, [Call] Ungiphethe! — [Response] You carry me! Ohhh ithemba lami, Lingihola endleleni! (It leads me on the path!) Ohhh amandla akho, Awangishiyi, angiqinisa! (It never leaves me, it strengthens me!) I won’t be shaken, I won’t fall, Ngoba wena unami. (Because You are with me.) When I call, You hear my voice, Ngiyaz’ angilahliwe! (I know I am not forsaken!) [Call] Sithi bambelela! — [Response] We say hold on! [Call] Ngoba uyangiphethe! — [Response] Because You carry me! [Call] Ngithi bambelela! — [Response] I say hold on! [Call] Ngoba uyangigcina! — [Response] Because You keep me! Ohhh… ithemba lami… Bambelela ezulwini…
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