Lyrics
Chorus
Your throne is mercy,
And I am thirsty
For living waters
For living waters
Verse 1
It's grace not burdens,
Your will is saving
Your sons and daughters,
Your sons and daughters
Refrain
Tata eh,
Nde lumbanye nshina lyenu
Tata eh,
Shimwilili
Tata eh,
Nde lumbanye nshina lyenu
Tata eh,
Shimwilili
Verse 2
Even in the darkest times,
Your light's living in me
Permanent and not sometimes,
Now we're laying down these crowns
We have before Your throne,
Confident we realize
Bridge
Nshita yakwa Lesa (God's time)
Te nshita ya munthu (Is not man's time)
Nshita yakwa Lesa (God's time)
Te nshita ya munthu (Is not man's time)
Alpha, Omega
Te nshita ya munthu (Is not man's time)
Alpha, Omega
We're here to surrender
Outro
No, I don't - no, I don't walk alone
Na mulya mu nshila ya mpepo
No, I don't - no, I don't walk alone
Na mulya mu nshila ya mpepo
Translations for the Bemba sections:
- Tata eh: Father (used as a respectful/honorific address).
- Nde lumbanye nshina lyenu: I am praising Your name.
- Shimwilili: A divine title often used to mean "Eternal/Infinite God" or "The One who is forever."
- Nshita yakwa Lesa: God's time.
- Te nshita ya munthu: Not man's time.
- Na mulya mu nshila ya mpepo: And I am walking in the path of the Spirit.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Shimwilili" opens with an image of thirst answered at a merciful throne, echoing the plea for living water found throughout Scripture. Pompi frames grace as the opposite of burden, describing sonship rather than servitude and locating confidence in a posture of surrender before God's throne. The Bemba-language refrain addresses the Father directly, praising his name and naming him "Shimwilili," an honorific pointing to his eternal, unchanging nature.
The middle verses contrast the darkest times with a light that remains constant, insisting that God's presence does not flicker with circumstance. A bridge repeats the claim that God's timing, not human timing, governs the outcome, invoking the title Alpha and Omega to underline that claim with the language of beginning and end. The closing lines return to a promise of company rather than isolation, picturing a walk guided by the Spirit. Read together, the song moves from confession of need to settled trust in divine timing and presence.
Related Scripture
- John 7:37 Jesus invites anyone who thirsts to come to him and drink, echoed in the song's longing for living water.
- Revelation 22:13 God is named Alpha and Omega, matching the bridge's claim that his timing governs beginning and end.