The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
1 Samuel 28English
1 Samuwele 28African Kalanga
- English1
In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”
African KalangaMu mazhuba iyawo, Bafilisitiya bakakubunganya babhayani babo kunobhayana ne Iziraela. Akhishi kadwa Dafite Kati, “Wakafanila ziba kuti iwe ne bathu babo moshanganyila nami mu ikwata.”
- English2
David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
African KalangaDafite kashandula eti, “Imwi ndimwi monowobona kuti nlanda wenyu ungathamani.” Akhishi kan'dabila eti, “Kwakalulwama, iwe ndokuthama ntjengeti wangu butjilo gugo gose.”
- English3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
African KalangaIpapo Samuele wakabe afa, ngono Baiziraela bose bakan'galila tjililo, bakambiganya mu Rama nzi kanyi kwabo. Saulo wakabe atata banodana badzimu ne ng'anga dzinokandila mu shango.
- English4
The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa.
African KalangaBafilisitiya bakakubungana bakathibelela ku Shunemu, Saulo kakubunganya Baiziraela bose, bakathibelela ku Gilibhowa.
- African Kalanga
Kwakati Saulo ebona babhayani be Bafilisitiya, katja, moyo uwe ukazhala lutjo.
- African Kalanga
Kabhuzwa kuna Yahwe, Yahwe bakasitongo n'dabila, nakuto kuli nge whope kene Urimu kene nge balebesambeli.
- English7
Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said.
African KalangaNdizo Saulo kadwa bashingili babe kati, “Mundishakile nkadzi unolebeleka ne badzimu, kuti ndizo ndiyende kunli ndinombuzwa.” Bankandwa bakati, “Kuna mmwe ku Enidori.”
- English8
So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
African KalangaNdizo Saulo kazwishandula mbumbiko, kaambala zwiambalo zwipoga, busiku katola balume babili kayenda nabo ku nkadzi iwoyo. Kandwa kati, “Undidanile badzimu, undimusile wandinowodana nge zina.”
- English9
But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
African KalangaKoga nkadzi kan'dabila eti, “Nge malebeswa moziba tjakathamwa ndi Mambo Saulo. Bakatata bose banodana badzimu ne ng'anga dzinokandila mu shango. Whutini munditshila gwanga munditeela kuti ndibulawe kene?”
- English10
Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”
African KalangaSaulo katuna ndi Yahwe, kandwa kati, “Ndolebesa ndotuna ndi Yahwe banotjila, aungalobgwe shamu ngekwe kuthu ikoku.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo nkadzi kabhuzwa kati, “Ngono ndowomumusila ani kene?” Kan'dabila eti, “Undimusile Samuele.”
- English12
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
African KalangaKukati nkadzi ebona Samuele, kalila ekuila pezhugwi, ngono kadwa Saulo kati, “Apa whutini manditjebela kene? Imwi Mambo Saulo!”
- English13
The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a spirit coming up out of the ground.”
African KalangaMambo kandwa kati, “Usitje. Unobonani?” Nkadzi kadabila eti, “Ndobona ndzimu uzhuzhulukila pezhugwi udwa pasi.”
- English14
“What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
African KalangaKambhuzwa kati, “Mbumbiko yayo yakatini kene?” Nkadzi kandwa kati, “Nthuntana wakambala hazu.” Ndizo Saulo kaziba kuti ndi Samuele, kakotamisa nsholo kalinga pasi.
- English15
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
African KalangaSamuele kadwa Saulo kati, “Apa whutini wandidziyidza nge kundimusa kene?” Saulo kadabila eti, “Ndimu manikano whulu kwazo, Bafilisitiya banogwa nami, ngono Ndzimu wakandifupatila kakale autjandidabila, kene kuli nge balebesambeli kene nge whope. Ndizo ndamudana kuti mundibudze tjandingathama.”
- English16
Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy?
African KalangaSamuele kandwa kati, “Ini wandidana ngwenu Yahwe batjikufupatila bakakushandukila babe tjita tjitjo kene?
- English17
The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors–to David.
African KalangaYahwe bathama sekwa bakaleba beti ndikubudze, kuti bapaladza mbuso mu maboko awo, ngono baupa mmwe we zwikamu zwizo, baupa Dafite.
- English18
Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.
African KalangaNgobe auzowhilila whi la Yahwe, kene kushingikadza bushongola gwabo mu Bamaleki, ngono nasi, Yahwe bathama kuthu ikoku mukuli.
- English19
The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines.”
African KalangaYahwe banokulongelanya ne Iziraela mu maboko e Bafilisitiya, ngono mangwana iwe ne bakololo babo mowobe munami. Yahwe banowolongelanya ne ikwata tje Iziraela mu maboko e Bafilisitiya.”
- English20
Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
African KalangaTjinyolotjo Saulo kawa katandabala pasi, katja kwazo, etjisiwa nge matama a Samuele. Wakapelegwa nge simba ngobe wakabe ashwa kakale kalala kusina tjaaja.
- English21
When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.
African KalangaKukati nkadzi ezha kuna Saulo, kati ebona kuti unotetema kwazo, kati kunli, “Bonani, nlandakadzi wenyu wakamuteedza, ndalonga butjilo gwangu mu mbatsha, ngothama tjamati ndithame.
- English22
Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
African KalangaNgono ngwenu, tjiteedzani nlandakadzi wenyu, imani ndimupe zojiwa muje, kuti muwane simba muzwiyendigwe zwenyu.”
- English23
He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
African KalangaKalamba kandwa kati, “Andingaje.” Koga balanda babe bakabhatsha nkadzi iwoyu bakantshindilila, ngono kabateedza, kamuka pasi kagala tjigalo tje mapobepobe.
- English24
The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast.
African KalangaNkadzi wakabe ana ikondolo tjakakodziwa mu nzi uwe, katjibhaya tjinyolotjo, katola bgwisa gwe tjiwunga, kaguvanga kabhika tjiwunga tjisina mbidzo.
- English25
Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.
African KalangaKazwibiga mbeli kwa Saulo ne balanda babe, bakaja. Ndizo bakamilika bakayenda busiku igogu.
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.