Lyrics
Ngai Murathimi wirathimagira uria ukwenda
Na gutiri ungikuria kiuria watua kurathima
Ungiharurukia gutiri ungikuria kiuria
Ngai murathimi ndathima O ringi
Ndathimira wira wa moko makwa
Na uhe gitumi gia gukeneruruka
Ngai Murathimi wirathimagira uria ukwenda
Ngai murathimi ndathima O ringi
Jabezu aciarirwo aciari makimutua ruo
Jabezu Akiriria njenjeria ritwa
Na unjehererie ruo Ngai Undathime
Unjarararamirie mihaka yakwa
Ndathimira wira wa moko makwa
Na uhe gitumi gia gukeneruruka
Ngai Murathimi wirathimagira uria ukwenda
Ngai murathimi ndathima O ringi
Leah ndari Mwende ta rakeli ni Jakubu
Wamucuthiriria ukimuiguira tha
Leah akirathimwo agituika Nyina wa ruriri
Rwa Israeli Ona ee murege(Ngai Wakwa)
Ndathimira wira wa moko makwa
Na uhe gitumi gia gukeneruruka
Ngai Murathimi wirathimagira uria ukwenda
Ngai murathimi ndathima O ringi
Irathimo ciaku Itiri Kieha no gikeno
Ihana ta irima itienyenyekaga
Na tondu ndi Mwana
Waku thiini wa ritwa ria Jesu
Ndakuhoya ndathima O ringi
Ndathimira wira wa moko makwa
Na uhe gitumi gia gukeneruruka
Ngai Murathimi wirathimagira uria ukwenda
Ngai murathimi ndathima O ringi
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Ngai Murathimi," Kikuyu for "God who blesses," moves through two figures from the Hebrew scriptures as proof that God's blessing reaches people whose circumstances argued against it. The song opens with a broad claim — God blesses whomever He wishes, and no one can question that choice — before turning to Jabez, whose recorded prayer asked God directly to bless him and enlarge his territory, a prayer answered exactly as asked. Naming Jabez by name grounds the song's request for blessing in a specific biblical precedent rather than a vague hope.
The second figure, Leah, carries the song's emotional weight: loved less than her sister Rachel by Jacob, she is described as pitied and seen by God, who blessed her to become mother of a nation. That detail reframes blessing as something God gives in response to being overlooked rather than in reward for being favored. The refrain returns throughout to a simple request — bless the work of my hands, give me reason to rejoice — asking, like Jabez, to be remembered by the same God who noticed Leah when no one else did.
Related Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez's prayer asking God to bless him and enlarge his territory is directly named and retold in the second verse.
- Genesis 29:31-32 God sees Leah, who was loved less than her sister, and blesses her, matching the song's retelling of her story.