Praise Poem to God

The Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu has come out in which there is a chapter entitled, "Praise Poem to God." Tutu reveres a nineteenth century Xhosa prophet by the name of Ntsikana who emphasized prayer, penance, conversion from sin, submission to God's will and the centrality of resurrection. Ntsikana dressed in a leopard skin and worshiped in Xhosa song and dance creating a thoroughly African faith. Ntsikana wrote the "Great Hymn" in the form of a traditional praise poem to Ulo-Thixo Omkhulu ngosezulwini, that is, to the One, the Great God, who is in Heaven. Here is how this praise poem goes in translation:

The Great God, He is in heaven.
Thou art thou, Shield of truth.
Thou art thou, Stronghold of truth.
Thou art thou, Thicket of truth.
Thou art thou, who dwellest in the highest.
Who created life (below) and created (life) above.
The Creator who created, created heaven.
This maker of the stars, and the Pleiades.
A star flashed forth, telling us.
The maker of the blind, does He not make them on purpose?
The trumpet sounded, it has called us,
As for His hunting, He hunteth for souls.
Who draweth together flocks opposed to each other.
The Leader, he led us.
Whose great mantle, we put on.
Those hands of Thine, they are wounded.
Those feet of Thine, they are wounded.
Thy blood, why is it streaming?
Thy blood, it was shed for us.
This great price, have we called for it?
This home of Thine, have we called for it?