Batsogile Lovederia “Rebecca” Malope (born June 30, 1968) is a South African gospel singer. She is known as “The Queen of Gospel.” Her music career spans more than three decades. She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time. Most of the 36 albums she has released have reached multi-platinum status.

Below are lyrics to her song Isandla which is also a prayer, that is still very relevant today:

Isandla by Rebecca Malope

Jehovah is my great
Jehovah Nkulukulu wami

I bring myself before your face
Ngizisondeza phambi kwebuso bakho

I am on my knees and bowing down
Ngigucile ngamadolo ngibheke phansi

I’m hiding my face, I’m  hiding from the Lord
Ngizifihla ubuso bami nje ngiswabile nkosi

I am in scared of the work of our hands
Ngiswabiswa imisebendzi yezandla zethu

I am horrified by the evil that our hands do every day
Ngiswabiswa ububi izandla zethu ezibendza mihla yonke

Today my heavenly lord
Namhlanje nkos’yami yasemazulwini

I bow down and pray
Ngigucile ngyakuthandaza

Please, father, let me talk to someone
Ngiyacela baba ngivumele ngikhulume nomuntu

Allow me to speak to your creatures
Ngivumele somandla ngikhulume nesidalwa sakho

Today I made a fortune teller
Namhlanje ngenze umbhuli wesandla

Oh, don’t be a judge, my Lord
Ohh ungangenzi umahluleli nkos’yami

I made a hand fortune teller, father gave me the eyes of the spirit
Ngenze umbhuli wesandla baba ungiphe amehlo omoya

 Oh brother, look at your hand
Ohh mfowethu bheka isandla sakho

Now open it and take a closer look
Namhlanje sivule usbhekisise

See the its dirt and the fun of it
Ubone ukungcola nokuswabisa kwaso

Yesterday they were building with respect and amazing love
Izolo lokhu besakha ngenhlonipho nothando olumangalisayo

Where we hold, we hold
Lapho sibambe khona sibamba kucine

We comforted and entertained
Siduduza futhi sijabulisa

Its warmth lulls even a small baby to sleep
Ukufudumala kwaso kulalisa ngisho nosana oluncane

Today our parents are lying in the cemetery
Namhlanje abazali bethu balele emathuneni

Because of our hands
Ngenca yezandla zethu

The homes of relatives and friends are surrounded with bushes
Amakhaya ezihlobo nabangani avalwe ngamahlathi

Because of our hands
Ngenca yezandla zethu

The hand of a man who prayed
Isandla sala umuntu asithandaza

He got down on his knees and begged
Aguce ngamadolo asincenga

He said oh, don’t kill me
Athi yooo, ungangibulali

But the same hand will continue to stab and shed blood
Kodwa sona isandla sochubeka sihlabe kucitheke igazi

We even left even a small child screaming
Sala ngisho ingane encane imemeza

My toe he says, is hurting me
Ngezwane ithi uyangilimaza

But we will continue to kill and shed blood
Kodwa sona sochubeka sihlabe kucitheke igazi

The palm of your hand that warmed you
Isandla syakubhambhatha sikufudumeze

Feels the body’s senses running
Uzwe imizwa yomzimba igijima

We also make food for you and poison it
Sibuye sikwenzele ukudla sikufakele ushevu

Killing an entire family
Ufe uphele wonke umndeni

Today our hands are paralyzed
Namhlanje izandla zethu sishiye ishoshwa

They have also left an orphan
Zashiya neyintandane

Many homes are crying because of our hands
Imizi eminingi ikhala ibhungane ngenca yezandla zethu

What will happen to our hands
Ngabe kwenzenjani ngezandla zethu

My brother, look at your hands, look closely
Mzalwane wami bheka izandla zakho, usbhekisise

Are the hands of the truth?
Ngabe izandla zeciniso na

Is your hand the hand of tears?
Ngabe isandla sakho isandla senyembezi na

Are they hands of blood?
Ngabe izandla zegazi na

Are we building or tearing down?
Ngabe siyakha noma siyabhidliza na

He calls, David the son of God
Uthi u Davide indodana ka Nkulukulu

Oh, please, Lord, let me fall into your hands
Oh ngyacela nkosi ngiwele ezandleni zakho

Don’t let me fall into aa man’s hands
Ngingaweli ezandleni zomuntu

Because the hand of man is still in the Lord
Ngoba isandla somuntu syasabekha Nkosi

 We need help
Sidinga uncedo

We need their salvation
Sidinga insindiso bawo

Oh Father have mercy on our hands
Oh Bawo hawukela izandla zethu

Put compassion in the hands of man
Faka uzwelo ezandleni zomuntu

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ngegama lenkosi yethu uJesu Krestu

I’m asking for love in someone’s hands
Ngicela uthando ezandleni zomuntu

Put respect in the hands of a person
Faka inhlonipho ezandleni zomuntu

Oh!
Oh!

My lord, we pray father
Nkos’yami asikuthumi baba

We ask you, Lord
Syakucela nkosi

Help our hands
Nceda izandla zethu

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ngegama lenkosi yethu uJesu Krestu

Father, we have prayed
Baba syakuthandaza

Help us, father
Sincede baba

Amen

We will all die, all of us in the world
Siyafa siyaphela sonke, sonke emhlabeni

Uh let’s talk, let’s talk
Uh mas’khulume, mas’khulume

Let’s talk
Mas’khulume