Jesu, Agbara Mi / Jesus, My Strength, My Hope

Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems 1742.

Jesu, agbara mi, Iwo l' aniyan mi, Emi fi igbagbo w' oke, Iwo l' O ngb'adua. Jeki nduro de O, Ki nle se ife Re, Ki Iwo Olodumare K'o so mi di otun. Fun mi l' okan 'rele, Ti 'ma se ara re; Ti ntemole, ti ko nani Ikekun Satani: Okan t' ara re mo Irora at' ise; T' o nfi suru at' igboya Ru agbelebu re. Fun mi l' eru orun, Oju t' o mu hanhan, T'y'o wo O n'gb' ese sunmole, K' o ri b' Esu ti nsa. Fun mi ni emi ni, T' O ti pese tele. Emi t' o duro gangan lai T' o nf' adura s' ona. Mo fokan adura, Adura n'gba gbogbo, Ki n ma se kun s' ibawi Re, Ki n farada 'soro. 'Bukun to ga julo: Ki n gbadura n'gba gbogbo Lati 'nu ibu mo ke pe O, Ki n ma se rewesi. Mo fe 'bowo tooto, Ete kan to duro, Laifotape, emi o duro Fun O, f'oruko Re. Itara to gbona Fun iyin Re titi; Ongbe feeyan gbogbo lati ko Ati gb'or' ofe Re ga. Mo gbekel' oro Re 'Wo l' o leri fun mi; Iranwo at' igbala mi Y'o t' odo Re wa se, Sa je kin le duro, K' ireti mi ma ye, Tit' Iwo o fi m' okan mi Wo 'nu isimi Re. Mo fe fi gbogb' okan Mi mu ife Re se Lati mora mi at' Iwo At' ife pipe Re. O'un mo fe n ko mo, O'un mo fe mo fe ri, Mo fe, o se! oun ti mi o fe, Gba 'Wo ko si n'nu mi? Source: Stanzas 1, 2, 3, and 6 from YBH #317 Stanzas 4, 5, 7 translated by Ayobami Temitope Kehinde (08/15/2019)

Jesus, my Strength, my Hope, On Thee I cast my care, With humble confidence look up, And know Thou hear’st my prayer. Give me on Thee to wait Till I can all things do; On Thee, almighty to create, Almighty to renew. I want a sober mind, A self-renouncing will, That tramples down and casts behind The baits of pleasing ill; A soul inured to pain, To hardship, grief, and loss, Bold to take up, firm to sustain The consecrated cross. I want a godly fear, A quick discerning eye That looks to Thee when sin is near And sees the tempter fly; A spirit still prepared And armed with jealous care, Forever standing on its guard And watching unto prayer. I want a heart to pray, To pray and never cease, Never to murmur at Thy stay, Or wish my sufferings less. This blessing, above all, Always to pray, I want, Out of the deep on Thee to call, And never, never faint. I want a true regard, A single, steady aim, Unmoved by threat’ning or reward To Thee and Thy great Name. A jealous, just concern For Thine immortal praise; A pure desire that all may learn And glorify Thy grace. I rest upon Thy Word; The promise is for me; My comfort and salvation, Lord, Shall surely come from Thee. But let me still abide, Nor from my hope remove, Till Thou my patient spirit guide Into Thy perfect love. I want with all my heart Thy pleasure to fulfill, To know myself, and what Thou art, And what Thy perfect will. I want I know not what, I want my wants to see, I want—alas! what want I not, When Thou art not in me? Source

My Notes

Translating these few verses was an ardous task o, chai, it was indeed aayan ogbifo. But thank God for the wisdom to translate. Blessings!