The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
2 Kings 4English
2 Bomambo 4African Kalanga
- English1
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
African KalangaNkadzi we mmwe we badiyiwana be balebesambeli kalilila kuna Elisha eti, “Nlanda uwo, iye nlume wangu wakafa, ngono unoziba kuti nlanda uwo wakabe etja Yahwe, koga nlume waakabe ekolota wazha kuwotola bana bangu babili kube balanda babe.”
- English2
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”
African KalangaElisha kanshandula eti, “Ndikuthamileni kene? Undibudze, kuneni tjaunatjo mu ng'umba iyo?” Ngono kati, “Nlandakadzi wenyu aana tjaanatjo mu ng'umba kuzhe kwe itenyana tje mafuta.”
- English3
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
African KalangaElisha kandwa kati, “Yenda ku babakidzani babo bose ukumbile mapepe asina tjimukati. Usikumbile mashomanana.
- English4
Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
African KalangaNgono ungine mu ng'umba uzwizhalilile mukati ne bakololo babo, ube udila mafuta mu mapepe wose, linozhala ulibigile ntome.”
- English5
She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.
African KalangaNkadzi kadwa pa nli, kanozwizhalilila mu ng'umba ne bakololo babe, ngono bakololo babe bakayesa mapepe kunli iye edila mafuta.
- English6
When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
African KalangaKwakati mapepe wose atjizhala, kati ku nkololo uwe, “Zhisa limwe kakale.” Ngono kanshandula eti, “Akutjina bhepe lasala.” Ndizo mafuta kama kuwunga.
- English7
She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
African KalangaNkadzi kayenda kanobudza nlume we Ndzimu, ngono kati, “Yenda unotengesa mafuta ngono ulipe zwikoloto zwizo, ndizo anowobe asala unowozwitjidza ndiwo ne bakololo babo.”
- English8
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
African KalangaKwakati limwe zhuba Elisha kayenda ku Shunemu, kwakabe kuna nkadzi wakafuma, iye wakankwekweredza kuja zojiwa. Ngono tjibaka tjimwe ne tjimwe ha epinda ipapo unopampukilako kunoja.
- English9
She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.
African KalangaNgono nkadzi kadwa nlume uwe kati, “Bona, ndoziba kuti nlume wakayengemala we Ndzimu, unogala epinda patili.
- English10
Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
African KalangaNgati nthamile ng'umbana tjapezhugwi kudenga, ngono timbigile bulawo ne tafuli ne tjigalo ne luvone, kuti ndizo apa azha kutili agale ko.”
- African Kalanga
Kwakati limwe zhuba kaswika, ngono katathila ku tjing'umbana tjitje, kanyaluluka ko.
- English12
He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him.
African KalangaNgono kadwa nlanda uwe Gehazi kati, “Dana nkadzi we N'shunami.” Wakati an'dana, kazha kama mbeli kukwe.
- English13
Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”
African KalangaNgono Elisha kadwa Gehazi kati, “Undwe uti, ‘Wakazwidziyidza kungapa nge kwedu, unoshaka thamigwani kene? Apa unoshaka lebelekegwa kuna mambo kene ku ntungamili we babhayani be ngwa kene?’ ” Nkadzi kashandula eti, “Ndogala pakati kwe bathu bangu.”
- English14
“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “Well, she has no son and her husband is old.”
African KalangaNgono Elisha kati, “Ungathamigwani kene?” Gehazi kashandula eti, “Tjoselele aana nkololo, ne nlume uwe watjikwegula.”
- African Kalanga
Elisha kabe eti, “Un'dane.” Ngono wakati an'dana, kabuya kama pa nkoba.
- English16
“About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she objected. “Don’t mislead your servant, O man of God!”
African KalangaNgono Elisha kati, “Mu tjibaka itjetji mu gole linozha, unowobe wakagumbatila mwana we tjilisana.” Ngono nkadzi kashandula eti, “Aa, tetshi wangu, imwi nlume we Ndzimu, musitjengele nlandakadzi wenyu.”
- English17
But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
African KalangaKoga nkadzi kazwisenga ngono kawana mwana we tjilisana mu tjibaka itjetjo mu gole linotobela, koga sekwa akabe abudziwa ndi Elisha.
- African Kalanga
Kwakati mwana atjikula, limwe zhuba kabhuda kayenda kuna tate babe ku bavuni.
- English19
“My head! My head!” he said to his father. His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
African KalangaNgono mwana kadwa tate babe kati, “Nsholo wangu, nsholo wangu,” Tate babe bakadwa nlanda bakati, “Un'yise kuna mmeyabe.”
- English20
After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.
African KalangaKwakati nlanda ammilidza, an'yisa kuna mmeyabe, mwana kagala mu makumbo abo kuswikila masikati, ngono kafa.
- African Kalanga
Ngono nkadzi kayenda kanombiga mu bulawo gwe nlume we Ndzimu, ngono akanzhalilila mukati iye kabhuda.
- English22
She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”
African KalangaKadana nlume uwe, kandwa kati, “Unditumile mmwe we balanda ne imwe donki kuti nditjimbidze ndiyende ku nlume we Ndzimu ngono ndishanduke.”
- English23
“Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.” “It’s all right,” she said.
African KalangaNlume kashandula eti, “Ini uyenda kunli nasi kene? Ngoti akutekuli Nzano we Mwedzi ugala, kakale akutekuli Sabata.” Nkadzi kati, “Kose kowolulwama.”
- English24
She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.”
African KalangaNdizo nkadzi kabelesa donki, ngono kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Utjiyendise, usindinonose kuzhe kwendakudwa ndijalo.”
- English25
So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite!
African KalangaNgono kayenda kanoswika ku nlume we Ndzimu ku Dombo le Karimeli. Kukati Elisha embona aswika, kadwa Gehazi nlanda uwe kati, “Bona, nkadzi we nshunami woje,
- English26
Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ “ “Everything is all right,” she said.
African Kalangalabuka unshanganidze, umbhuzwe uti, ‘Apa unomuka kene? Apa nlume uwo unomuka kene? Apa mwana uwo unomuka kene?’ ” Ngono kashandula eti, “Kwakalulwama.”
- English27
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”
African KalangaNgono kati eswika pa nlume we Ndzimu ku dombo, kabhata makumbo awe. Ngono Gehazi kasedzela kuti ansunde, koga nlume we Ndzimu kati, “Unletje, ngobe meya dzidze dzakadzipikana munli, ngono Yahwe bandisumbikila iko, abazondibudza.”
- African Kalanga
Ngono nkadzi kati, “Apa ndakatongo kumbila mwana we tjilisana kumuli tetshi wangu kene? Apa andizoti musinditjebele kene?”
- English29
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”
African KalangaNgono kadwa Gehazi kati, “Sunga thunji dzidzo ngono utole ludozo gwangu nge luboko uyende. Ha ushangana ne nthu usidumilise, ha nthu ekudumilisa usindabile, ubige ludozo gwangu mu buso gwe mwana.”
- English30
But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.
African KalangaIpapo mme be mwana bakati, “Yahwe ha batjatjila kose nawe utjatjila, andingakusiye.” Ndizo kamilika kasala nkadzi shule.
- English31
Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”
African KalangaGehazi kayendila mbeli ngono kaswika kabiga ludozo pa buso gwe mwana, ngono kwakabe kusina nsindo kene tjinolakidza butjilo. Ndizo kashanduka kanonshangamidza ngono kandwa kati, “Mwana aazomuka.”
- African Kalanga
Kwakati Elisha eswika ku ng'umba, kabona mwana alilele akafa pa bulawo gugwe.
- African Kalanga
Ndizo kangina kazwizhalilila mukati ne mbisana katembezela kuna Yahwe.
- English34
Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy’s body grew warm.
African KalangaNdizo katatha bulawo kalala pezhugwi kwe mwana, kabiga nlomo uwe panlomo we mwana, mesho awe pana e mwana, maboko awe pa maboko e mwana, ngono wakati ezwitambunudza pezhugwi kwe mwana, mbili we mwana ukadziya.
- English35
Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
African KalangaNgono kamilika kakale, kayenda yenda mu ng'umba, katatha ngono kazwitambunudza pezhugwi kwe mwana, mwana katshimuta katendeka ngono mwana kazhula mesho awe.
- English36
Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.”
African KalangaElisha kadana Gehazi kandwa kati, “Dana nkadzi we Nshunami.” Ndizo nlanda kandana, ngono wakati ebuya kandwa kati, “Tola nkololo uwo.”
- African Kalanga
Kangina, ngono kawila pa makumbo awe kathigama pasi. Ipapo katola nkololo uwe kayenda.
- English38
Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men.”
African KalangaElisha kabgwilila ku Giligala ngono kukabe kuna bhamba mu shango. Ngono kwakati badiyiwana be balebesambeli batjigele mbeli kukwe, kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Biga hali whulu pa moto, ngono uthamile badiyiwana be balebesambeli zojiwa.”
- English39
One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.
African KalangaNgono mwe wabo kabhuda kayenda ku shango kunoshaka milibo, ngono kawana nti unamapudzana kautjela kazhadza hazu iye. Ngono kati ashanduka kaswika eutjekelelela mu hali ye zojiwa, nenguba kwakabekusina unoziba kuti ini.
- English40
The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.
African KalangaKukapakuligwa balume kuti baje. Ngono kwakati betangisa ja, baka lila beti, “Nlume we Ndzimu wee, kuna lufu mu hali.” Ngono bakasitubule ku zwija.
- English41
Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He put it into the pot and said, “Serve it to the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
African KalangaElisha kati, “Zhisani bgwisa.” Ngono kagulonga mu hali, kabe eti, “Pakulila balume kuti baje.” Ngono kukabe kusina mbhatsha mu hali.
- English42
A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said.
African KalangaKukazha nlume edwa ku Bhaaleshalisha ezhisila nlume we Ndzimu zwiwunga zwe zwivuno zwe kutanga zwe bhali zwili makumi mabili (20), kose ne zwiyako zwe mathunde matshwa. Elisha kati, “Ipa balume ibaba baje.”
- English43
“How can I set this before a hundred men?” his servant asked. But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’”
African KalangaKoga nlanda uwe kati, “Ukatini? Apa ndingabiga ikoku mbeli kwe bathu bali zana kene?” Koga Elisha kashandula eti, “Uzwipe balume ibaba baje, ngoti tjinoleba Yahwe ndi etji, ‘Banowoja bakasiya.’ ”
- English44
Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.
African KalangaNdizo kazwibiga mbeli kwabo, ngono bakaja bakasiya, kuyendidzana nge dama la Yahwe.
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.