Ngoba ngimamatheka njalo,

Ngikhombisa nokwenama,

Ngihlabelela ngephimbo,

Nom’ ungifak’ emgodini

Ngaphansi kwezinganeko

Zamatsh’ aluhlaz’ omhlaba —

Sewuthi nginjengensika

Yon’ engezwa nabuhlungu.

Ngob’ umlomo wam’ uhleka,

Namehl’ am’ ebheke phansi,

Ngifingqe ngabek’ idolo,

Nezinwele sezimpofu

Zigcwel’ uthuli lomgwaqo,

Ngipheth’ ipiki ngesandla,

Neyemb’ elingenamhlane —

Sewuthi nginjengedwala

Lon’ elingakwaz’ ukufa.

Ngoba njalo ngakusihlwa

Sengigumul’ iketango

Lomsebenz’ onzim’ emini,

Ngihlangana nabakithi

Siyogadlela ngendlamu,

Singoma ngamadala

Asikizelis’ igazi,

Kuphele nokukhathala —

Sewuthi ngiyisilwane

Esifa kuzalw’ esinye.

Ngoba ngiwumngquphane,

Ngibulawa ukungazi,

Ngingaqondi namithetho,

Kodwa ngizwa ingiphanga;

Nendlu yami ngiyibeke

Ngaphansi kweziwa zetshe;

Utshani buyindlu yami,

Isaka liyisivatho —

Sewuthi ngiyisiduli,

Kanginalo nonyembezi

Olucons’ enhliziyweni,

Luwel’ ezandlen’ ezinhle

Zamadloz’ abuka konke.