154. Ndabaririmbira Iby Uwamfiriye

Gushimisha · 6 verses

1.

Ndabaririmbira—Iby’Uwamfiriye,

Wankunze mfit’ ibyaha, narararutse !

Wambonyemw iki, Krisito,

Ukaza mw is’ukamfira ?

(I will sing of Him—Who died for me,)

(Who loved me though sinful, I was lost!)

(What did You see in me, O Christ,)

(That You came to earth to die for me?)

2.

Yasiz’ ingoma ye, —Nukw aramanuka;

Baramusuzugura, ntibamwemera

Har’ indi nshuti nka We se

Yakund’ abayihinyuye ?

(He left His throne,—And He came down;)

(They despised Him, they rejected Him)

(Is there another friend like Him)

(Who loved those who betrayed Him?)

3.

Baramushingije, —Bashash’ imyambaro

Ngo, Hozana; hahirw’ Umwami Krisito!

Bukeye, barahinduka,

Bati: Nabambge ! Nabambge !

(They crowned Him,—They stripped His garments)

(Saying, Hosanna; blessed is King Christ!)

(In the morning, they changed their minds,)

(Saying: Crucify Him! Crucify Him!)

4.

Bafash’ Umwam’ ubgo, —Baramuhemura;

Bakiz’umwambuzi, babamba Krisito

Iby’ arabyihanganira,

Ngw abon’ ukw aducungura

(They took the King Himself,—They mocked Him;)

(They freed a murderer, crucified Christ)

(All that He endured,)

(That we might see how He saves us)

5.

Yavuye mw ijuru, —Aza mur’ iyi si,

Abur’ aho yarambik’ umusaya we;

Amfira ku Musaraba,

Ngo nanjy’ angeze mw ijuru

(He came down from heaven,—Came to this earth,)

(Having nowhere to lay His head;)

(He died on the Cross,)

(That I too might enter heaven)

6.

Ntabgo nzarambirwa—Kubaririmbira

Iby’ urukundo rwe n’ uko yababajwe

Yanyemeye nk’ inshuti ye:

Nzavuga hos’ izina rye!

(I will never cease—To sing)

(Of His love and how He suffered)

(He accepted me as His friend:)

(I will praise His name forever!)