The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
1 Kings 18English
1 Bomambo 18African Kalanga
- English1
After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”
African KalangaShule kwe tjibaka tjilefu, mu gole le butatu kuli bhamba, dama la Yahwe likazha kuna Elija liti, “Yenda unozwilakidza kuna Ahabu, ngono ndowonisa vula mu shango.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Elija kayenda kunozwilakidza kuna Ahabu. Ipapo bhamba lakabe lakula kwazo mu Samariya.
- English3
and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.
African KalangaNgono Ahabu kadana Obhadiya wakabe ali nlauli we ng'umba ye bushe. (Obhadiya wakabe etja Yahwe kwazo.
- English4
While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)
African KalangaKwakati Jezebele ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe, Obhadiya katola balebesambeli bali zana (100) kabathubukanya nge makupo mabili, kabasumbika mu makuwu mabili, guwu limwe ne limwe bali makumi mashanu (50), kabapila zojiwa ne vula ko.)
- English5
Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”
African KalangaAhabu kadwa Obhadiya kati, “Ngati palame shango tiyende mu misenya yose ne mikuku yose, pamwe tingawanila mbizi ne moulo dzedu fulo, kuti tisitongodwa tifigwa nge zwimwe zwithuwo zwedu.”
- English6
So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.
African KalangaNdizo bakazwikoba nge shango bubili gwabo kuipalama, Ahabu kayenda ega ku imwe mbizho, Obhadiya katolabo imwe mbizho ali egabo.
- English7
As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”
African KalangaKwakati Obhadiya atji mu zila, kashangana na Elija, ngono Obhadiya kanziba, kathigama kakotamisa nsholo kambhuzwa kati, “Apa ndimwi tetshi wangu Elija kene?”
- African Kalanga
Elija kan'dabila eti, “Ee ndimi. Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo mambo kuti ndi ipapa.”
- English9
“What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?
African KalangaObhadiya kabe eti, “Apa ndakatjinyani kwaungadza ukandilonga mu maboko a Mambo Ahabu kuti ndibulawe?
- English10
As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.
African KalangaNdotuna na Yahwe, Ndzimu wenyu banotjila, akuna itjaba kene mbuso nakuto bali tetshi wangu kwabasakatongo mutumila bathu kunomushaka. Ngono ha bezha beti, ‘Amutoboneka,’ Mambo Ahabu kakumbila mbuso kene itjaba itjetjo kuti batune, kuti amuzowang'wa.
- African Kalanga
Apa ngwenu mondidwa muti, ‘Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo uti, “Bonani, Elija upano.” ’
- English12
I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth.
African KalangaApa ha kungati ndidwa pamuli Meya ya Yahwe ibe imutola imuyisa kwandisingazibe, ndibe ndizha ndimushaya ngono ndabudza Mambo Ahabu kuti mu ipapa, ebe ezha emushaya, unondibulaya. Zibani kuti imi nlanda wenyu, kudwa mu butjetjana gwangu ndotja Yahwe.
- English13
Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water.
African KalangaApa tetshi wangu amuzowha tjandakathama mu tjibaka Jezebele tjaakabe ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe kene? Ndakasumbika balebesambeli ba Yahwe bali zana mu makuwhu mabili, limwe ne limwe lina bali makumi mashanu (50), ndibuya ndibapa tjiwunga ne vula.
- African Kalanga
Apa mungandidwa muti ndiyende ndinobudza tetshi wangu nditi, ‘Elija uipapa kene?’ Unowondibulaya!”
- English15
Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”
African KalangaNgono Elija kadabila eti, “Ndotuna na Yahwe Masimbawose banotjila, bandimile mbeli kwabo, nasi tjoselele ndowonozwiyisa mbeli kwa Mambo Ahabu.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Obhadiya kayenda kanobudza Ahabu, ngono Ahabu kamilika kanoshangana na Elija.
- African Kalanga
Kukati Ahabu ebona Elija, kandwa kati, “Apa ndiwe dumbu, iwe unodziyidza Iziraela?”
- English18
“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
African KalangaNgono Elija kan'dabila eti, “Imi andizotongo dziyidza Iziraela, koga iwe ne nsha wa tate babo ndimwi badziyidzi be Iziraela, ngobe makalasha milayo ya Yahwe mukatobela ya bo Bhaale.
- English19
Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
African KalangaNdizo ngwenu tjituma bathu banodana Baiziraela bose banoshangana nami ku Dombo le Karimeli ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) ne bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) be ndzimukadzi Ashera, banoja na Mambokadzi Jezebele pa tafuli.”
- African Kalanga
Ipapo Ahabu kadana Baiziraela bose ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale kunoshangana nabo ku Dombo le Karimeli.
- English21
Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
African KalangaNgono Elija kasedzela ku Baiziraela kabadwa kati, “Apa kowodza kukabe lini mudzungayila muli pakati kwe mikumbulo mibili kene? Ha Yahwe bali Ndzimu, mubatobele, koga ha Ndzimu ali Bhaale, muntobele!” Koga Baiziraela bakashaya dama labangadabila Elija ndilo.
- English22
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
African KalangaNdizo Elija kadwa Baiziraela kati, “Ndimi ndoga nlebesambeli wa Yahwe wakasala, koga balebesambeli ba Bhaale ba mazana ali manna ana makumi mashanu (450).
- English23
Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.
African KalangaNdokumbila kuti tipiwe mikono mibili, ibo bazwishalulile ng'ompela baubhaye bautjekelele nge mitezho baubige pezhugwi kwe whuni, koga basitongo ulonga moto. Ngono imi ndowobhaya mmwe awutjekelela awubiga pezhugwi kwe whuni, ngono anditowoulonga moto.
- English24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire–he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
African KalangaNgono mudwe balebesambeli ba Bhaale batembezele ndzimu wabo, imi ndowotembezela Yahwe, ngono Ndzimu unowodabila nge kutuma moto, ndiwo Ndzimu.” Bathu bose bakadabila beti, “Waleba zubuyanana.”
- English25
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
African KalangaNdizo Elija kadwa balebesambeli ba Bhaale kati, “Muzwishalulile nkono nng'ompela muubhaye imwi kutanga, ngoti mubanjinji, mube mudana zina le ndzimu wenyu, koga musitongo longa moto muuli.”
- English26
So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
African KalangaBalebesambeli ba Bhaale bakatola nkono wabapiwa, bakaubhaya bakautjekelela bakadana zina la Bhaale kudwa mangwanana kunoti masikati beti, “Imwi Bhaale, mutidabile!” Koga kukasibe ne whi, kene dabilo ing'ompela. Ngono bakazana bepoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjabakabe bathama. Koga kukasibe ne dabilo.
- English27
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
African KalangaKukati kwabe masikati makulu, Elija katangisa kubadadila eti, “Tembezelani nge mawhi apezhugwi, ngoti ndzimu. Pamwe utjaalakana zwimwe kene kuna kwaayenda. Pamwe watola gwendo, pamwe akayizelazwe, makafanila kuumusa.”
- English28
So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.
African KalangaBakatembezela nge mawhi apezhugwi, bakazwitjeka bezwipalulanya, kuyendidzana ne tjilenje tjabo, kudzina malopa ewunga edwa mubali.
- English29
Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
African KalangaNgono kukati kwabe masikati e mateuko, bakaleba ngodzadzanya beleba dama yeli beletja, kudzina kuswika tjibaka tjekuyisa tjibhayilo tje madekwana. Koga kusina whi linowhika kene dabilo yabanowana.
- English30
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins.
African KalangaNdizo Elija kadwa bathu bose kati, “Sedzelani kundili,” ngono bakasedzela bose bakampoteleka. Elija katangisa ngomusa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe tjakabe tjaligigwa pasi.
- English31
Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”
African KalangaIpapo Elija katola mabgwe ali gumi lina mabili, kuyenda nge njudzi dze bakololo ba Jakubo, wakazhigwa nge dama la Yahwe lin'dwa liti, “Zina lilo lowodang'wa Iziraela.”
- English32
With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
African KalangaKabakila Yahwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo nge mabgwe iyawo, kathama ngolo ingabhata vula ingabe tjilizanyo tje dzilitha dzili gumi lina dzili nna (14) kutjipoteleka.
- English33
He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
African KalangaKayilikanya whuni pezhugwi kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo, katjekelela nkono nge mitezho kaibiga pezhugwi kwe whuni. Kadwa bathu kati, “Zhadzani hali dzili nna nge vula muidile mu tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa ne mu whuni.”
- English34
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.
African KalangaKabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe bubili.” Bakathama gwe bubili. Kabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe butatu.” Bakathama kakale gwe butatu.
- African Kalanga
Vula ikazhala ngolo ikawunga kupoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo.
- English36
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
African KalangaKukati kuswika tjibaka tje kupisa tjibhayilo, nlebesambeli Elija kasedzela pa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo katembezela eti, “Imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu wa Abhurahama na Isaki na Jakubo, thamani kuti kuzibgwe nasi mu zhuba ileli kuti mu Ndzimu mu Iziraela ne kuti kuzibgwe kuti ndi nlanda wenyu ndothama zwithu zose izwezwi nge ndaulo yenyu.
- English37
Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
African KalangaMundidabile, imwi Yahwe, mundidabile, kuti ndizo bathu ibaba bazibe kuti imwe Yahwe mu Ndzimu, mushandulile moyo ye bathu ibaba kumuli.”
- English38
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
African KalangaNdizo Yahwe bakadelusa moto ukapisa tjibhayilo ne whuni ne mabgwe, ukawomesa pasi ubuya upkhwisa vula mu ngolo.
- English39
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord -he is God! The Lord -he is God!”
African KalangaKukati bathu bose bebona tjashingikala, bakawila pasi bakakotamisa misholo bemimila beti, “Yahwe, ba Ndzimu dumbu, Yahwe ndibo Ndzimu!”
- English40
Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
African KalangaElija kadwa bathu kati, “Bhatani balebesambeli ba Bhaale, kushaye ne nng'ompela wapudzumuka.” Bathu bakababhata bose, Elija kabe eti bayisiwe ku Nkuku we Kishoni, banobulayigwa ko.
- African Kalanga
Ngono Elija kadwa Mambo Ahabu kati, “Yendani munoja mung'we, ngoti ndowha nsindo, kwaswika vula isishoma.”
- English42
So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
African KalangaIpapo kukati Ahabu etathila kunoja ebuya eng'wa. Elija katatha Dombo le Karimeli kanogala pasi, akakotamisa nsholo uwe uli pakati kwe makumbo awe.
- English43
“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
African KalangaNgono kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unolinga ku gungwa.” Kayenda kanolinga kanshaka kazha eti, “Akuna tjandabona.” Elija kadwa nlanda katendeka eti, “Bgwilila unolinga.”
- English44
The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
African KalangaNgono nlanda kati ebuya gwe butendeka kadwa Elija kati, “Bonani, kuna gojana lingapa tjiazha tje nthu linomilika lidwa mu gungwa.” Elija kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unodwa Mambo Ahabu alibilidze alulwamise koloyi iye ayende, ngoti vula ingadwa indziba.”
- English45
Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
African KalangaTjinyolotjo makole kashanduka kabe matema ne phepo ikawuwudza, kukana vula isishoma. Ngono Ahabu kangina mu koloyi iye kayenda ku Jezirele.
- English46
The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
African KalangaSimba la Yahwe likazha muna Elija kazwisunga thunji nge zwiambalo zwizwe, kalabuka ali mbeli kwa Ahabu kudzina enongina ku Jezirele.
Source: The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible, Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo, 2026. This online edition was extracted and reformatted from the PDF edition. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.