My Collection of Yoruba Hymns

Words: Thomas Ken Ji okan mi ba oorun ji, Mura si ise ojo re; Mase ilora, ji kutu, Ko san gbese ebo ooro. Ogo fun Enit'o so mi, To tu mi lara loj'oorun; Oluwa ijo mo ba ku, Ji mi saye ainipekun. Oluwa mo tun eje je, Tu ese ka biri ooro; So akoronu mi oni, Si f'Emi Re kun inu mi. Oro atise mi oni, Ki won le ri bi eko Re; Kemi fi ipa mi gbogbo Sise rere fun ogo Re. Source: YB Hymnal #47 Awake, my soul, and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise, To pay thy morning sacrifice. Thy precious time misspent, redeem, Each present day thy last esteem, Improve thy talent with due care; For the great day thyself prepare. By influence of the Light divine Let thy own light to others shine. Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways In ardent love, and cheerful praise. In conversation be sincere; Keep conscience as the noontide clear; Think how all seeing God thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys. Wak...

William Cowper, 1731-1800 Isun kan wa to kun feje, O yo niha Jesu. Elese mokun ninu re, O bo ninu ebi. Gba mo figbagbo risun naa, Ti n san fun ogbe Re, Irapada dorin fun mi Ti n o ma ko titi. Ninu orin to dun ju lo, Lemi o korin Re: 'Gba t'akololo ahon yii Ba dake niboji. Mo gbagbo p'O pese fun mi (Bi mo tile saiye) Ebun ofe ta feje ra, Ati duru wura. Duru ta towo'Olorun se, Ti ko ni baje lai: T'a o ma fi yin Baba wa, Oruko Re nikan. Source: YB Hymnal #232 There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains: The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in His day; And there may I, though vile as he, Washed all my sins away: Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its pow’r, Till all the ransomed church of God Are safe, to sin no more: E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been...

By Frances J. Crosby , 1868 Laifoya lapa Jesu, Laifoya laya Re Labe ojiji 'fe Re Lokan mi yo sinmi. Gbo ohun angeli ni, Orin won deti mi, Lati papa ogo wa, Lati okun Jaspi. Refrain: Laifoya lapa Jesu Laifoya laya Re Labe ojiji 'fe Re Lokan mi yo sinmi. Laifoya lapa Jesu Mo bo low'aniyan, Mo bo lowo idanwo, Ese ko nipa mo, Mo bo lowo 'banuje, Mo bo lowo eru O ku idanwo die! O k'omije die! Jesu abo okan mi, Jesu ti ku fun mi, Apata ayeraye Lemi o gbekele, Nihin lemi o duro Tit'oru yo koja, Titi n o fi rimole Ni ebute ogo. Source: Yoruba Baptist Hymnal #254 Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Hark! ’tis the voice of angels Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea. Refrain: Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Safe in the arms of Jes...

Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855 Ninu gbogbo ewu oru, Oluwa l'O n so wa; Awa si tun rimole yii, A tun te ekun ba. Oluwa pa wa mo loni, Fi apa Re so wa, Kiki awon t'Iwo pa mo, Lo n yo ninu ewu. Koro wa ati iwa wa, Wipe, Tire l'awa; To bee kimole otito Le tan loju aye. Ma je ka pada lodo Re, Olugbala owon; Titi a o foju wa ri Oju Re nikehin. Source: Yoruba Baptist Hymnal #232 Through all the dangers of the night, Preserv'd, O Lord! By thee; Again we hail the cheerful light, Again we bow the knee. Preserve us, Lord! throughout the day, And guide us by thy arm; For they are safe, and only they, Whom thou preserv'st from harm. Let all our words and all our ways, Declare that we are thine, That so the light of truth and grace Before the world may shine. Let us ne'er turn away from thee; Dear Saviour, hold us fast, Till with immortal eyes, we see Thy glorious face at last.

Wa obirin, e ko Orin iye nipa Olugbala, Krist' 'Mole Olorun Krist' to jinde nipa, Krist' t'O de yin lade, Oun ni k'eyin. E ko awon 'mode Ati arabinrin Nile gbogboFun awon elese Fawon alailera Ateni okunkun Magbadura. Sise pelu 'gboya Ojumo fere mo Eni ife 'Rawo yo tan fun yin Inu yin yo si dun Ati nipa 'fe Re E ma reti. 'Gbati' kore ba de Aka Oluwa wa Yio kun pupo 'Reti Onirele Krist' ti gbogbo wa n wa, Krist' yo fun yin lere Pelu ayo Come, women, wide proclaim Life through your Savior slain; Sing evermore. Christ, God’s effulgence bright, Christ, who arose in might, Christ, who crowns you with light, Praise and adore. Come, clasping children’s hands, Sisters from many lands, Teach to adore. For the sin sick and worn, The weak and overborne, All who in darkness mourn, Pray, work, yet more. Work with your courage high, Sing of the daybreak nigh, Your love outpour. Stars shall ...

Nellie Talbot Jesu fe k'emi je 'mole Ki n tan lojoojumo Nibi gbogbo ki n le wun Oun, Nile, ni skul, lode. Refrain: Imole, imole, Jesu fe kemi je 'mole Imole, imole, Lemi yo je fun Jesu. Jesu fe ki emi feran, Gbogb'ohun ti mo ri, Ki n fi itara atayo, Tomode Re le je. Mo le semole fun Jesu, Bi mo ba gbiyanju; Ki n si sin Oun nigba gbogbo, Ki n ba Oun gbe orun. Source: Yoruba Baptist Hymnal #642 Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, To shine for Him each day; In every way try to please Him, At home, at school, at play. A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam; A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for Him. Jesus wants me to be loving, And kind to all I see; Showing how pleasant and happy His little one can be. I will ask Jesus to help me To keep my heart from sin, Ever reflecting His goodness, And always shine for Him. I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus; I can if I but try; Serving Him moment by moment, Then live with Him on h...

H. Ernest Nichol, 1896 Itan kan wa fawon orile Ti yo tun okan won se Itan otito, ti o si dun Itan alafia, oun'mole, Itan alafia, oun'mole. Refrain: Tori okunkun yo di oye Oye yo dosan gangan Ijoba nla Krist' yo gba aye 'Joba ife ati'mole A lorin kan ko f'orilede, Ti wo gbokan won s'Oluwa, Orin ta fi segun Esu, A o se oko, a o si run'da, A o se oko, a o si run'da. A ni ise kan je forile-ede, P'Oluwa to joba loke, Ti ran 'Mo Re lati gba wa la, O fi han wa pe 'Fe l'Olorun Pe Ife ni Olorun. A l'Olugbala kan fi han 'raye, En' t'O koja nu 'banuje, Ki gbogbo eniyan agbaye Le gb' otito oro Olorun, Le gb' otito oro Olorun. Source: Yoruba Baptist Hymnal #642 We’ve a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right, A story of truth and mercy, A story of peace and light, A story of peace and light. For the darkness shall turn to dawning, And the dawni...