Lyrics
Verse 1
What shall I render to Jehovah
for He’s done so much for me
I can not tell it all
Nara ekele mo (Take my thanksgiving)
If I Had ten thousand tongues
It still won’t be enough
Nara ekele mo (Take my thanksgiving)
Verse 2
Umetenda mengi kwangu
Siwezi tenda yote (Nakushukuru)
Hata kwa lugha kumi elfu
Bado haitatosha (Nakushukuru)
Mungu aniponyaye akiponya
Huponya kabisa (Nakushukuru)
Ajuaye moyo wangu
Ni mpaji anaishi naimba (Nakushukuru)
Chorus
What shall I render to Jehovah
For He has done so very much for me
Nikupe nini Mungu wangu
Sababu umetenda mengi kwangu
Nara nara ekele (Nara ekele mo)
Pokea Sifa Yesu
Nakutukuza Nakusifu (Nakushukuru)
Umenifanya ning'are
Nakutukuza Nakusifu Nakushukuru
Pokea Sifa Yesu
Nakutukuza Nakusifu (Nakushukuru)
I give you all the praise
Chorus 2
What shall I render to Jehovah
For He has done so very much to me
Nikupe nini Jehovah
Sababu umetenda mengi kwangu
(Switch to Reggae)
What shall I render to Jehovah
For He has done so very much to me
Nikupe nini Jehovah
Sababu umetenda mengi kwangu
Nara nara ekele (Nara ekele mo)
Pokea Sifa Yesu
Nakutukuza Nakusifu (Nakushukuru)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Nara Swahili Version is a bilingual cover that carries the thanksgiving of the original Nara into Swahili. The English lines ask "What shall I render to Jehovah" for all He has done, a question that echoes Psalm 116:12, and they admit that even "ten thousand tongues" would not be enough to tell it all.
The Swahili verse repeats the same idea in the singer's own language: "Umetenda mengi kwangu" says that God has done much, and the response "Nakushukuru" means thanks. The chorus then moves to praise, with "Pokea Sifa Yesu" asking that praise be received, and a note in the lyrics marks a switch to a reggae feel near the end. The phrase "Nara ekele mo," glossed in the lyrics as "Take my thanksgiving," stays in the refrain, which keeps a link to the original song. The mix of English and Swahili makes the thankfulness easy to join in whichever language a listener knows best.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 116:12 The psalmist asks what to render to the Lord for all His benefits.
- Psalm 107:1 The psalm calls for giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness.