The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
1 Samuel 25English
1 Samuwele 25African Kalanga
- English1
Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon.
African KalangaIpapo Samuele kafa, Baiziraela bose bakakubungana bakanlilila. Bakambiganyila mu nzi uwe mu Rama. Ipapo Dafite kamilika kadelukila ku tjilambanyika tje Parani.
- English2
A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
African KalangaKwakabe kuna nlume ku Maoni, ana thundu iye ku Karimeli, akabe akafuma kwazo, akathuwa pkhwizi dzili zwiwulu zwili zwitatu (3 000) mbudzi dzili tjiwulu tjing'ompela (1 000). Wakabe eteselela pkhwizi dzidze mu Karimeli.
- English3
His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
African KalangaZina lile lakabe liyi Nabhali, zina le nkadzi uwe kuyi Abigaile. Ali nkadzi mbuya wakatjenjela, koga nlume wakabe ana moyo wakabipa asina buthu, wakabe ali Nkhalibhi.
- African Kalanga
Kukati Dafite ali mu tjilambanyika kawha kuyi Nabhali unotesela pkhwizi dzidze.
- English5
So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name.
African KalangaNdizo Dafite katuma bazhuzha bali gumi, kabadwa kati, “Tathilani ku Karimeli kuna Nabhali, muswike mundidumilisile iye.
- English6
Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
African KalangaHa mundumilisa muti, ‘Mbakiso ngaibe namwi, ibe nenge nsha wenyu, nenge zose zwamunazo.’
- English7
“ ‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing.
African KalangaNdiko ndiwha kuyi nsi we kutesegwa kwe pkhwizi, ngono takabe tina balisi be pkhwizi dzenyu, atizotongo badziyidza, akuna tjakabamilila tjibaka tjose tjabakabe bali mu Karimeli.
- English8
Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’”
African KalangaMubabhuzwe, banowomubudza. Tazha nge zhuba le nzano, ngono Dafite wamukumbila kuti mutibhate nge maboko mabili. Wakumbila kuti mupe balanda benyu ne nkololo wenyu Dafite tjamungabe munatjo.”
- African Kalanga
Kwakati balanda ba Dafite baswika, bakaleba sekwa batumwa ndi Dafite. Ndizo bakalinda.
- English10
Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
African KalangaKoga Nabhali kashandula balanda ba Dafite eti, “Apa Dafite ndiani kene? Nkololo wa Jesi iwoyu ndiani? Balanda banjinji mazhuba iyawa banonyeluka botetshi babo.
- English11
Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
African KalangaApa ndingatola tjiwunga tjangu ne vula yangu, ne nyama yandabhayila bateseli be pkhwizi dzangu, ndipa bathu bandisingazibe kuti banodwa ngayi beyenda ngayi kene?”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo balanda ba Dafite bakashanduka bakabgwilila, bakaswika bakabikila Dafite matama wose iyawa.
- English13
David said to his men, “Put on your swords!” So they put on their swords, and David put on his. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
African KalangaDafite kadwa balanda babe kati, “Nlume mmwe ne mmwe ngadedele bukano gugwe!” Mmwe ne mmwe wabo kadedela bukano gugwe, Dafite na iyebo kadedelabo gugwe, ndizo balume bangabe mazana manna (400), bakamilika na Dafite, bali mazana mabili (200) bakasala bakalinda thundu.
- English14
One of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail: “David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them.
African KalangaNgono mmwe we balanda kabudza Abigaile nkadzi wa Nabhali eti, “Dafite wakatuma balanda kudwa mu tjilambanyika kuwodumilisa tetshi wedu, ngono babashanganidza nge masapa.
- English15
Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.
African KalangaIpapa balume ibaba bakabe bakatilulamila kwazo, abazotongo tidziyidza, nenge nako dzose tili mu shango pejo nabo akuna tjakatongo timilila.
- African Kalanga
Takabe takalisa pkhwizi dzedu tili pejo nabo, bakatibakilila siku ne sikati.
- English17
Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
African KalangaNdizo ngwenu kumbulani mu bone kuti mungathamani, ngobe kungadwa kukabe mbatsha muna tetshi wedu na bose be nsha uwe, ngoti iye nthu una moyo wakabipa kwazo, akuna nthu ungalebeleka naye.”
- English18
Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
African KalangaNdizo Abigaile kalibilidza katola zwiwunga zwili mazana mabili (200), makukhwa mabili e nkumbi we zhambi, pkhwizi dzili shanu dzakashashikwa, makabha mashanu ye mathunde akakangiwa, thabi dzili zana (100) dze zhambi dzakawanikiwa ne makhekhe e phaya ali mazana mabili (200). Kazwibelesa mu madonki.
- English19
Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
African KalangaKadwa bazhuzha babe kati, “Munditungamile, ndomusala shule.” Koga kasitongobudza nlume uwe Nabhali.
- English20
As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them.
African KalangaKwakati ekunguluka ali pezhugwi kwe donki, atjisitigwa nge dombo, kashangana na Dafite ne bathu babe bedelukila kunli, ngono kabashangamidza.
- English21
David had just said, “It’s been useless–all my watching over this fellow’s property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good.
African KalangaIpapo Dafite kalebeleka eti, “Tjoselele kwakabe masimba malashe, kose kwandakatjengeta mu tjilambanyika, kwe nthu iwoyu, ngobe akuna tjakamila tja zose zwaakabe anazo, koga mu bubuya gwandakanthamila igo, wandilipa nge mbipo.
- English22
May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”
African KalangaNdzimu undilobe upaphulula, ha lingati mangwana libhuda, abe ndasiya nng'ompela we tjilume etjila, we balanda babe bose.”
- English23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.
African KalangaKwakati Abigaile ebona Dafite, kalibilidza kadeluka donki, kawila pasi nge zwidwi mbeli kwa Dafite akakotamisa nsholo.
- English24
She fell at his feet and said: “My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.
African KalangaKawila pa makumbo a Dafite kandwa kati, “Tetshi wangu, nlandu ube mu mathudzi angu, nlanda wenyu unokumbila lebeleka namwi, ngono muteedze tjinowobe tjilebgwa nge nlanda wenyu.
- English25
May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name–his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.
African KalangaTetshi wangu, musitongo tobelela nthu iwoje we meya mbi Nabhali, mbimbi seleba kwe zina lile Nabhali, kudwiwa kuti tjilengwe, bulengwe gumunli, koga imi, nlanda wenyu, andizobe ndabona balanda ba tetshi wangu, bamakatuma.
- English26
“Now since the Lord has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal.
African KalangaNgono ngweno tetshi wangu, ndotuna ndi Yahwe banotjila, nanga namwi, sekwa Yahwe bamudziba mu kutebula malopa ne kuzwibgwilizila nge maboko enyu, tjiletjedzani zwita zwenyu na bose banoshaka kumuthamila mbipo bafanane na Nabhali.
- English27
And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you.
African KalangaNgono ngwenu amutjilani tjipo etji, tjazhisiwa nge nlandakadzi wenyu, tetshi wangu, kuti tjipiwe balanda bakasala shule tetshi wangu.
- English28
Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the Lord’s battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live.
African KalangaNdomukumbila muzwiibhatigwe nlandu we nlandakadzi wenyu, ngobe Yahwe nge malebeswa banowopa tetshi wangu bushe gusingapele, ngobe mobhayana ngwa dza Yahwe. Akusiwanike mbipo mu muli mu butjilo gwenyu gose.
- English29
Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.
African KalangaNakuto kuna mmwe angamutobelela eshaka kumubulaya, tetshi wangu, butjilo gwa tetshi wangu gowowang'wa pakati kwe batjili, mu maboko a Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu. Koga Yahwe banowopaladza butjilo gwe zwita zwenyu se mabgwe anoposiwa edwa mu tjivirimabgwe.
- English30
When the Lord has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel,
African KalangaHa Yahwe basinothamila tetshi wangu kuyendidzana ne ndulamo yose yabakaleba nge kwenyu, bamubiga mbusi we Iziraela,
- English31
my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord has brought my master success, remember your servant.”
African Kalangatetshi wangu abatowobe ne kuwha zogwadza kene tjibhayo mu moyo, tje nlandu we kutebula malopa mwaza kene kuzwitjidza nge kwabo. Ngono ha Yahwe bathama kuti mutubule tetshi wangu, mukumbule nlandakadzi wenyu.”
- English32
David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.
African KalangaDafite kadwa Abigaile kati, “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe, Ndzimu we Iziraela, bakutuma kuwoshangana nami nasi.
- English33
May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
African KalangaNgakukudziwe nkumbulo uwo, ukombolegwe iwe, wandidziba mu kutebula malopa ne mu kuzwibgwilizila nge luboko gwangu.
- English34
Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”
African KalangaNdolebesa ndotuna ndi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela banotjila, ibo bandidziba mu kukukubadza, ha wabe usatjimbidza ukandishanganidza, ndolebesa kwabe kowoti mangwanana kukabe kusina ne ng'ompela we tjilume wasalila Nabhali etjila.”
- English35
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.”
African KalangaNdizo Dafite kaamutjila mu luboko gugwe tjaakabe anzhila, ngono kandwa kati, “Yenda ku nzi uwo nge mbakiso, bona, ndawha tjawaleba, ngono ndaamutjila kukumbila kuko.”
- English36
When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak.
African KalangaKwakati Abigaile eswika kuna Nabhali, kawana akabhata nzano mu ng'umba iye, unonga wa mambo, wakabe ebilima, akalaladza kupinda tjilizanyo. Koga kasindwe tjimwe kuswikila tjimuka kwayedza.
- English37
Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.
African KalangaNdizo kukati tjimuka budakwa gwapela muna Nabhali, nkadzi uwe kambudza zwithu izwezwi, moyo uwe ukama, kawoma se danda.
- African Kalanga
Shule kwe mazhuba angabe gumi, Yahwe bakaloba Nabhali, kafa.
- English39
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
African KalangaKwakati Dafite ewha kuti Nabhali wakafa, kabe eti, “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe bakasumikilisa ndebo ye sapa la Nabhali laakandituka, ngono bakadziba nlanda wabo mu mbipo, Yahwe bakabgwilizila zwiyito zwakabipa zwa Nabhali mu nli.” Ndizo Dafite katuma nthu kun'shakila Abigaile, kuti abe nkadzi uwe.
- English40
His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”
African KalangaBalanda ba Dafite bakayenda kuna Abigaile ku Karimeli bakaswika bendwa beti, “Tatumwa ndi Dafite kumuli kuti tomutola kunobe nkadzi uwe.”
- English41
She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master’s servants.”
African KalangaAbigaile kamilika kakotamisa nsholo, kabe eti, “Nlandakadzi wenyu upano, wazwimisila kumushingila ne kungudza makumbo e balanda ba tetshi wangu.”
- English42
Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David’s messengers and became his wife.
African KalangaAbigaile kamilika tjinyolotjo kayenda akatatha donki, kanokotosiwa nge balandakadzi babe bali bashanu, kayenda ali shule kwe batumwa ba Dafite, kanobe nkadzi uwe.
- African Kalanga
Dafite wakabe akalobola Ahinoamu we Jezerele, ngono bose nge bubili bakabe bakadzi babe.
- English44
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
African KalangaKoga Saulo wakabe akoba nkololokadzi uwe Mikhali wakabe ali nkadzi wa Dafite, anlobodza Palitiele nkololo wa Laishe wakabe edwa ku Galimu.
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.