The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
1 Samuel 9English
1 Samuwele 9African Kalanga
- English1
There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
African KalangaKwakabe kuna nlume wakabe akafuma zina lile liyi Kishi, Kishi ali nkololo wa Abiele, Abiele ali nkololo wa Zero, Zero ali nkololo wa Bhekorati, Bhekorati ali nkololo wa Afiya, Afiya ali nkololo we Nbhenjamini.
- English2
He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites–a head taller than any of the others.
African KalangaWakabe ana nkololo uwe zina lile liyi Saulo, ali nzhuzha mbuya. Kwakabe kusina nlume pakati kwe balume be Iziraela mbuya kumpinda, ali nlefu mmwe ne mmwe wakabe emmila pa thudzi.
- English3
Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.”
African KalangaIpapo madonki a Kishi tate ba Saulo, akabe amila. Ndizo Kishi kadwa nkololo uwe Saulo kati, “Tola mmwe we balanda munoshaka madonki.”
- English4
So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
African KalangaBakapalama shango ye matuthu ye Ifureimi bakapalama ne shango ye Shalisha, koga bakasiabone. Ngono bakapalama shango ye Shaalimu naikobo bakaasheta ndizo bakapalama ntuthu we Bhenjamini, naiko bakasiabone.
- English5
When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
African KalangaBakati beswika ku ntuthu we Zufu, Saulo kadwa nlanda waakabe anaye kati, “Ngatibgwilile kanyi, tate banowodwa basingatjakumbule ngekwe madonki, bebe bodziyidzika ngekwedu.”
- English6
But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”
African KalangaKoga iye kanshandula eti, “Bona, kuna nlume we Ndzimu mu nzi iwoyu, nlume unokudziwa kwazo. Tjimwe ne tjimwe tjaanoleba tjobe malebeswa. Ngatiyendeko sangwenu, pamwe ungatipa nkwala we kwatingashakila.”
- English7
Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
African KalangaNdizo Saulo kati ku nlanda, “Apa ha tiyenda ku nlume uwoyo towonompani kene? Zojiwa zwabe zwili mu whomo dzedu zwapela, atina tjipo tjatinganopa nlume we Ndzimu, apa ini tjatinatjo kene?”
- English8
The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.”
African KalangaNlanda kan'dabila kakale kati, “Ipapa ndina butukununu gwe loso le siliva, towonolipa nlume we Ndzimu kuti atipe nkwala.”
- English9
(Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)
African KalangaMu Iziraela kwakabe kuti unobe eyenda kunobhuzwa Ndzimu, kabe eti, “Ngatiyende tinobona mboni,” ngobe nlebesambeli ntolo wakabe edang'wa mboni.
- English10
“Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was.
African KalangaNdizo Saulo kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Kwakalulwama, izha tiyende.” Ndizo bakayenda ku nzi kwakabe nlume we Ndzimu aliko.
- English11
As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
African KalangaBakati betathila pezhugwi kwe duthu ku nzi, bakashangana ne baanadi bebhuda benotjela vula, ngono bakababhuzwa bakati, “Mboni uyapo kene?”
- English12
“He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place.
African KalangaBakadabila beti, “Ee, uyapo, ndiye iwoje umbeli kwenyu. Tjimbidzani ndiko kwaabe eswika ngwenu ku nzi, ngobe bathu bana tjibhayilo nasi ku bugalo gu pezhugwi.
- English13
As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
African KalangaKowoti koga mungina mu nzi, mowon'wana asathu katathila ku bugalo gu pezhugwi kunoja. Bathu abangatangise kuja kuswikila eswika, se akafanila kuyengemadza tjibhayilo, kowoti shule bakokiwa bebe beja. Ndizo tathilani tjinyolotjo monon'wana.”
- English14
They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
African KalangaBakatathila pezhugwi ku nzi, kwakati koga bengina mu nzi, bonani bakashangana na Samuele eyenda ku bugalo gu pezhugwi.
- African Kalanga
Yahwe bakabe balala bazumbunulila Samuele, Saulo asathu kazha beti,
- English16
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.”
African Kalanga“Kowoti mangwana nge tjibaka itjetji, ndowotumila ku kuli nlume unodwa ku shango ya Bhenjamini, ngono unzhodze kuti abe ntungamili we bathu bangu Baiziraela, unowosunungula bathu bangu mu maboko e Bafilisitiya, ngobe ndabona kudziyidzika kwe bathu bangu, ne tjililo tjabo ndatjiwha.”
- English17
When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
African KalangaKwakati Samuele ebona Saulo, Yahwe bakandwa bakati, “Oyu ndiye nlume wandakalebeleka nawe nge kukwe, ndiye unowobusa bathu bangu.”
- English18
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
African KalangaNdizo Saulo kasedzela kuna Samuele pa nkoba kati, “Ndokumbila bhuzwa, ng'umba ye mboni iponi kene?”
- English19
“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
African KalangaSamuele kadabila eti, “Ndimi mboni, pindani tiyende ku bugalo gu pezhugwi, ngobe nasi mowoja nami, ngono tjimuka mangwanana ndowomubudza kose kumu mimoyo yenyu, ndibe ndimupa zila muzwiyendigwa zwenyu.
- English20
As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?”
African KalangaNgekwe madonki enyu akamila zhulolija, musidziyidzike nge kwawo, ngobe akabong'wa. Apa njemulo dzose dze Iziraela dzakalinga kuna ani, ha dzisi mukuli ne nsha wose wa tate babo kene?”
- English21
Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
African KalangaSaulo kashandula kati, “Apa andite ndili Nbhenjamini we ludzi gutukunu tjose mu Iziraela, apa nsha wangu ate iwo we ntukunu tjose mu misha yose ye ludzi gwe Bhenjamini kene? Apa ini mulebeleka zwithu zwakajali nami kene?”
- English22
Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited–about thirty in number.
African KalangaIpapo Samuele katola Saulo ne nlanda uwe kabayisa ku ng'umba inojigwa, kabagadza mu magalo ambeli kwabo bose bakabe bakokiwa, bakabe bangabe makumi matatu (30).
- English23
Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”
African KalangaSamuele kadwa mbhiki kati, “Undipe nyama yandakupa, iyeyi yandakudwa nditi uibigile ntome.”
- English24
So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
African KalangaNdizo mbhiki katola mpimbila ne tjidzwa kazwibiga mbeli kwa Saulo. Ngono Samuele kabe eti, “Ezwi, ndizo zwamabe mabigigwa. Ijani, ngobe zwabe zwabigigwa ntome zwili zwenyu mu nzano iwoyu, kuti muzwije mu tjibaka itjetji ne bakokiwa.” Ndizo Saulo kaja na Samuele mu zhuba ilelo.
- English25
After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.
African KalangaKwakati basinobe badeluka mu bugalo gu pezhugwi bezha mu nzi, kukawaligwa Saulo kayizela pezhugwi kwe denga le ng'umba.
- English26
They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.
African KalangaNdizo kwakati zhuba libhuda Samuele kadana Saulo ku denga le ng'umba, kandwa kati, “Muka ndikupe zila uyendezo.” Saulo kamuka, bakabhudila kuzhe bose na Samuele.
- English27
As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”-and the servant did so-”but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.”
African KalangaBakati bedelukila ku bupelo gwe nzi, Samuele kadwa Saulo kati, “Idwa nlanda ayendile mbeli kwedu.” Ngono nlanda kathama sekwa adwiwa, Samuele kabe eti, “Ima ipapa kushomanana kuti ndikuzibise dama le Ndzimu.”
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.