Essence of Worship - Ninapenda Nikuabudu Lyrics

“Ninapenda Nikuabudu” by Essence of Worship is a Swahili worship chant whose title means “I love to worship You.” The main line, “Ninapenda nikuabudu Bwana… siku zote nikuabudu Bwana,” says that the singer loves to worship the Lord and wants to do it every day, so the song treats worship as a lasting habit rather than a single event.

The second section is a short prayer built from three verbs: “Nikujue,” let me know You; “Nikufahamu,” let me understand You; and “Nikuelewe,” let me grasp You, each followed by “Nikuabudu,” let me worship You. Pairing knowing and worshipping is close to Philippians 3:10, where Paul longs to know Christ, and to John 4:24 on worship in spirit and truth.

The lyric is made of two short refrains with wordless interjections between them, which leaves room for extended congregational singing. Its message is that knowing God leads to worshipping Him, and worship is meant to continue every day.