Saturday, October 27, 2007

ROCK OF AGES

Rock of Gibraltar, by Frederick R. Lee (1798-1879)

ROCK OF AGES

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Words:
Au­gus­tus M. Top­la­dy, 1776.

Music: Toplady,
Thom­as Hast­ings, 1830
(MI­DI, score).

*******

MWAMBA WENYE IMARA

Mwamba wenye imara,
Kwako nitajificha.
Maji na damu yako,
Toka mbavuni mwako,
Iwe dawa ya kosa,
Kutakasa mioyo.

Si kazi za mikono,
Ziletazo wokovu.
Nikitoa machozi,
Nikifanya kwa bidii,
Siwezi kujiosha,
Unioshe wewe tu.

Sina la mikononi,
Naja msalabani.
Ni uchi, nipe nguo,
Dhaifu, nipe nguvu,
Niondolee taka,
Nitakase sijafa.

Nikaapo dunia,
Nifikapo kifoni.
Nitakapofufuka,
Nitakapokuona,
Mwamba wangu wa kale,
Kwako nitajificha.


Rock of Gibraltar, by Frederick R. Lee (1798-1879)

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