Does "Los ninos hayan en ti su refugio" make sense?

Question

Looking at song lyrics in Spanish for a praise song, this line stood out as making no sense. I think the translator thought that "haber" (to have [auxillary verb]) meant "tener" (to have). Am I right in thinking this or does "Los ninos hayan en ti su refugio" make sense?

Wait a bit and you will get more answers. I feel fairly confident, however. - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Thank you :) - pianoviola, Jun 3, 2012

De nada. Thank you, you made me go and look the song up! - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Answer 1

It should be hallan from hallar, not hayan from haber.

You're right, thanks! - annierats, Jun 4, 2012

Answer 2

I agree with murkitalor. In the lyrics of the song there is a mistake. It should say los niños hallan en ti su refugio (the children find their shelter in you). Hallar = encontrar (to find).

I almost forgot, the pronunciation of both words are the same. - Juliss, Jun 3, 2012

Answer 3

The children take shelter with you,

The children make you their haven..

Neither is an exact translation.

So are you saying the "hayan" has a legit purpose? - pianoviola, Jun 3, 2012

It's the only verb in the sentence. Literally, they may have, the subjunctive of hay, which means there is. - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Literal translation: The children may have in you their shelter.. - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Would you prefer to say "Los ninos tienen en ti su refugio"? - pianoviola, Jun 3, 2012

I looked up the son, it says ' hayan'. If you go for tener, maybe it should be tengan, but, it's a song, stick with the native original. - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Marco Barrientos: Nadie es como tú. Stick with the original! - annierats, Jun 3, 2012

Indeed, the original says hallan.. Sorry about this answer, I did my best. - annierats, Jun 4, 2012

Nice detective work, people! - RedLine55, Jun 4, 2012

Answer 4

Tu misericordia es como un río

tus manos traen sanidad

los niños hallan en ti su refugio.

There you are. Murkildor is right. Further search confirmed it. I can't say I even like the song but I've done a good lot of finding out for you!