The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
1 Kings 22English
1 Bomambo 22African Kalanga
- African Kalanga
Kwakatola makole ali matatu kusina ngwa pakati kwe Aramu ne Iziraela.
- African Kalanga
Koga kukati mu gole le butatu Jehoshafati mambo we Juda kazha kuna mambo we Iziraela.
- English3
The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”
African KalangaNgono mambo we Iziraela kadwa hadzasha dzidze kati, “Apa moziba kuti Ramotigiliyadi ngeyedu, ngono tinyelele koga akuna tjatinothama kuti tiyitole muna mambo we Aramu?”
- English4
So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
African KalangaKabe ebhuzwa Jehoshafati eti, “Apa unowoyenda nami kunogwa ne Ramotigiliyadi kene?” Jehoshafati kashandula eti, “Tjauli itjo nditjo tjandili itjo, babhayani bangu nge babo, mbizi dzangu dze ngwa nge dzidzo.”
- African Kalanga
Ngono Jehoshafati kadwa mambo we Iziraela kati, “Koga kutanga shaka gumbuludzo kuna Yahwe.”
- English6
So the king of Israel brought together the prophets– about four hundred men–and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” “Go,” they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
African KalangaNdizo Ahabu kakubunganya balebesambeli bangabe mazana manna (400), kababhuzwa kati, “Apa ndiyende ndinobhayana ne Ramotigiliyadi kene ndiletje?” Balebesambeli bakashandula beti, “Yendani munogwa nayo, Yahwe banowoilonga mu maboko enyu.”
- African Kalanga
Koga Jehoshafati kabe eti, “Apa akuna mmwe nlebesambeli wa Yahwe watingabhuzwa kakale kene?”
- English8
The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.
African KalangaMambo we Iziraela kashandula Jehoshafati eti, “Kuna mmwe nlebesambeli wa Yahwe unoyi Mikhaiya nkololo wa Imila, koga anditon'da, ngoti akuna tjakanaka tjaakatongolebela mbeli nge kwangu aisi mbipo koga.” Ngono Jehoshafati kabe eti, “Usijalo mambo wangu!”
- English9
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
African KalangaNdizo mambo we Iziraela Ahabu kadana mmwe we hadzasha dzidze kandwa kati, “Tjimbidza unodana Mikhaiya nkololo wa Imila.”
- English10
Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
African KalangaIpapo mambo we Iziraela Ahabu na Jehoshafati mambo we Juda bakabe bali ku libuwa mmwe ne mmwe aligele tjigalo tjitje tje bumambo bakaambala hazu dzabo dze bumambo ku nkoba we Samariya. Ngono balebesambeli bose bakabe belebelambeli bali mbeli kwabo.
- English11
Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”
African KalangaZedekiya nkololo wa Khenaana kathama nyanga dze tshipi kadwa Ahabu kati, “Yahwe bati mowogwa ne Baaramu nge nyanga idzedzi kudzina mubalobesa.”
- English12
All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
African KalangaBalebesambeli bose bakalebeselambeli saikoku, beti, “Tathilani ku Ramotigiliyadi munokunda, Yahwe banowoilonga mu maboko a mambo.”
- English13
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”
African KalangaBatumwa bakabe banodana Mikhaiya bakandwa bakati, “Bona, balebesambeli bakaleba dama ling'ompela ngogadzabgwe mambo kuti banowokunda, dzene dama lilo na ilobo lingafana ne le mmwe wabo, likagadzabo bgwe.”
- English14
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”
African KalangaKoga Mikhaiya kashandula eti, “Ndotuna na Yahwe banotjila, ndowoleba tjinowobe tjalebgwa ndi Yahwe!”
- English15
When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” “Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
African KalangaKukati eswika mbeli kwa Mambo Ahabu, bakambhuzwa beti, “Mikhaiya, tiyende ku ngwa ku Ramotigiliyadi kene tigale?” Ngono kadabila eti, “Tathilani ku Ramotigiliyadi munokunda, Yahwe banowoilonga mu luboko gwa mambo.”
- English16
The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
African KalangaKoga Mambo Ahabu kabhuzwa Mikhaiya eti, “Ndikudzikitadzile kangana kuti autondibudza tjimwe, ha isi lebeswa nge zina la Yahwe?”
- English17
Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”
African KalangaMikhaiya kadabila eti, “Ndakabona babhayani be Iziraela bakapalala pezhugwi kwe matombo, se pkhwizi dzisina nlisi, ngono Yahwe bakabe beti, ‘Bathu ibaba abana ntungamili, ima mmwe ne mmwe abgwilile ku nzi uwe nge mbakiso.’ ”
- English18
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”
African KalangaMambo we Iziraela Ahabu kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Apa andizokubudza kuti aangatongo lebeselambeli kwakanaka nge kwangu kene, kuzhe kwe mbipo?”
- English19
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.
African KalangaMikhaiya kadwilila eti, “Ndizo tjiwhani tjinolebgwa ndi Yahwe: Ndabona Yahwe baligele patjigalo tjabo tje bushe, bana batumwa babo bose be kudzimu bakabapoteleka.
- English20
And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that.
African KalangaYahwe bakabe beti, ‘Ndiani unowowonga Ahabu kuti adze atathe anofila ku Ramotigiliyadi kene?’ Mmwe kaleba tjaaleba, mmwe kaleba tjipoga,
- African Kalanga
kudzina meya izha ima mbeli kwa Yahwe, ibadwa iti, ‘Ndowon'wonga.’
- English22
“ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “ ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’
African KalangaYahwe bakabhuzwa bakati, ‘Nge zila yakatini?’ Meya ikashandula iti, ‘Ndowonothama kuti balebesambeli ba Ahabu bose balebe manyepkhwa.’ Yahwe bakaidwa bakati, ‘Yenda unon'wonga, unowotubula.’ ”
- English23
“So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”
African KalangaIpapo Mikhaiya kadwa mambo kati, “Yahwe balonga meya ye manyepkhwa mu milomo ye balebesambeli babo bose. Koga Yahwe bakulaulila golomodzo!”
- English24
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.
African KalangaNdizo Zedekiya nkololo wa Khenaana kamadzuka kanoloba Mikhaiya mu buso kandwa kati, “Kwakatangisa lini kuti meya ya Yahwe idwe mundili ilebeleke nawe?”
- African Kalanga
Mikhaiya kandwa kati, “Bona, unowobona mu zhuba ilelo, launowonobgwata mu ng'umba itjamukati.”
- English26
The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son
African KalangaMambo Ahabu kalaula hadzasha dzidze kati, “Bhatani Mikhaiya munse ku nlauli we nzi nkulu Amoni ne kuna Joashi nkololo wa mambo.
- English27
and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”
African KalangaMubadwe muti mambo bakati, ‘Munlonge mu ng'umba ye busungwa mumpe tjiwunga ne vula kudzina ndinobuya ndili mpumbulu.’ ”
- English28
Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”
African KalangaMikhaiya kadwa Mambo Ahabu kati, “Ha ungabuya uli mpumbulu, kowobe kudwa kuti Yahwe abazolebeleka nami.” Kabe edwa bakabe bali ipapo eti, “Muwhe tjandaleba imwe bathu mose mu ipapa.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Mambo we Iziraela Ahabu na Mambo we Juda Jehoshafati bakabhuda bakayenda ku ngwa ku Ramotigiliyadi.
- English30
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
African KalangaMambo we Iziraela kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Ndowolashidza azwithama mbhayani koga usi mambo, koga iwe uambale zwiambalo zwizo zwe bumambo.” Ngono mambo we Iziraela kazwilashidza kanongina mu ngwa.
- English31
Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
African KalangaIpapo mambo we Aramu wakabe adwa balauli babe be koloyi dze ngwa bali makumi matatu ana babili eti (32), “Imwi musitongo bhayana ne mmwe ntukunu kene nkulu, koga mubhayane na mambo we Iziraela Ahabu.”
- English32
When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out,
African KalangaKukati balauli be koloyi dze ngwa bebona Jehoshafati bakazwidwa beti, “Nge lebeswa ndiye mambo we Iziraela.” Ndizo bakabhayana naye, Jehoshafati kadila guwo.
- African Kalanga
Kukati balauli be koloyi dze ngwa baziba kuti ate ali iye mambo we Iziraela, bakashanduka bakaletja kutatana naye.
- English34
But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.”
African KalangaKoga kukati mmwe mbhayani we Aramu ngoambambidza ekweba dati lile nsebe ukanobhaya mambo we Iziraela panoshanganila zwiambalo zwizwe zwengwa. Mambo Ahabu kadwa n'yendisi we koloyi ye ngwa kati, “Shandukila shule, undiduse mu ngwa ngoti ndakubala.”
- English35
All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.
African KalangaZhuba ilelo ngwa ikakula kwakabangalala, Mambo Ahabu kasendamisiwa mu koloyi iye ye ngwa kubhayaniwa ne Baaramu, malopa kawunga edwa mu banga lile kazha kusi kwe koloyi kudzina zhuba lingina efa.
- English36
As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town; everyone to his land!”
African KalangaKukati zhuba liyendila ngina kukamimiligwa babhayani be Iziraela be mamo wose bedwiwa kuyi, “Mmwe ne mmwe ngaayende ku nzi wakanyi kwabo ne mmwe ne mmwe ku shango ya kanyi kwabo!”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Mambo Ahabu kafa. Itumbu tjitje tjikasengegwa ku Samariya kanobiganyigwa ko.
- English38
They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.
African KalangaKoloyi iye ye ngwa ikasukigwa ku dziba le Samariya kwakabe kungulila fukula, mbgwa dzikanazwa malopa awe kuyendidzana ne dama la Yahwe labakaleba.
- English39
As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and inlaid with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
African KalangaApa mimwe mishingo ya Ahabu na zose zwaakathama ne ng'umba iye ye bushe yaakabaka nge nyanga dze zhowu ne mizi mikulu yose yaakabaka, azwizokwagwa mu Lukwalo gwe Zwiyitikalo zwa Bomambo be Iziraela kene?
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Ahabu kafa kalala na botate babe, ngono nkololo uwe Ahaziya kan'gala thaka mu bumambo gugwe.
- African Kalanga
Jehoshafati nkololo wa Asa wakabigwa mambo we Juda mu gole le bunna Ahabu ebusa Iziraela.
- English42
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
African KalangaJehoshafati wakabigwa mambo ana makole ali makumi matatu ana ali mashanu (35), kabusa Jerusalema makole ali makumi mabili ana ali mashanu (25). Zina la mme ba Jehoshafati lakabe liyi Azuba nkololokadzi wa Shilehi.
- English43
In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
African KalangaJehoshafati kangina mu gumbo la Asa tate babe, ethama ndulamo mbeli kwa Yahwe, nenguba magalo e kunamata asakakolomogwa ne bathu bakadwilidzila kupisila zwibhayilo ne motsha muali.
- African Kalanga
Kwakabe ne mbakiso pakati kwa Jehoshafati na mambo we Iziraela.
- English45
As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
African KalangaApa mimwe mishingo ya Jehoshafati ne kube ne tjilopa tjaakalakidza ne kubhayana kukwe, azwizokwagwa mu Lukwalo gwe Zwiyitikalo zwa Bomambo be Iziraela kene?
- English46
He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa.
African KalangaWakadusa midzimukadzi yakabe yasala mu nsi we kubusa kwa tate babe Asa, mu shango.
- African Kalanga
Shango ye Edomu yakabe isina mambo, kwakabe kubusa mbhatshi wa mambo wakabe abigwa ndi mambo we Juda.
- English48
Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail–they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
African KalangaJehoshafati wakabe athama zwikepe zwe mbumbiko yezwe Tashishi kunosenga golide ku Ofira, koga migoro ikasiswike, ngobe yakapkhwanyikila ku Eziyonigeberi.
- English49
At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with your men,” but Jehoshaphat refused.
African KalangaIpapo mambo we Iziraela Ahaziya nkololo wa Ahabu kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Imani balanda bangu bayende ne benyu nge zwikepe.” Koga Jehoshafati kalamba.
- English50
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him.
African KalangaJehoshafati kafa katobela botate babe kabiganyiwa pakabiganyiwa botate babe mu nzi nkulu wa Dafite ku zwikumbu zwa bomambo. Ngono Jehoramu nkololo uwe kan'gala thaka mu bumambo gugwe.
- English51
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
African KalangaAhaziya nkololo wa Ahabu wakabigwa mambo we Iziraela mu gole le bugumi lina kutendeka Jehoshafati ali mambo we Juda, ngono kabusa Iziraela mu Samariya makole ali mabili.
- English52
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.
African KalangaWakathama tjibi mbeli kwa Yahwe ngongina mu gumbo la tate babe ne la mme yabe ne mu gumbo la Jeroboamu nkololo wa Nebhati wakathamisa Iziraela tjibi.
- English53
He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
African KalangaWakalonga Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela bushongola nge kushingila ne kunamata Bhaale sa tate babe.
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.