The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Esther 5English
Esita 5African Kalanga
- English1
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
African KalangaMu zhuba le butatu Esita kaambala zwiambalo zwizwe zwe bumambokadzi ngono kanoma mukatikati kwe ng'umba mbeli kwe ng'umba whulu ya mambo. Mambo wakabe ali gele mu tjigalo tjitje mu ng'umba whulu ye bushe akalingisana ne nkoba.
- English2
When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
African KalangaWakati ebona Nfumakadzi Esita ali mile pakati kwe ng'umba kanshathisa kwazo ngono katambunudza swimbgwana iye ye bushe yaakabe akabhata yakathamiwa nge golide, ngono Esita kasedzela kaibhata ku nsholo.
- English3
Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
African KalangaIpapo mambo bakandwa beti, “Kwatini Nfumakadzi Esita? Unoshakani kene? Leba koga, ndowokupa kunolizana ne gwamu le bushe gwangu.”
- English4
“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
African KalangaEsita wakashandula eti, “Tetshi wangu, apa kumushathisa, ndokumbila kuti muzhe ku mabhikwa na Hamani andinowomululwamisa nasi.”
- English5
“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
African KalangaNgono mambo bakabe beti, “Danani Hamani abuye tjinyolotjo kuti azhe tithame tjinoshakiwa ndi Esita.” Ndizo mambo na Hamani bakayenda ku mabhikwa kuna Esita.
- English6
As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
African KalangaNgono bakati batja ng'wa nkumbi we zhambi, mambo kabe eti kuna Esita, “Ini tjaunoshaka ndikuthamile itjo? Leba koga ndowokupa kunolizana ne gwamu le bushe gwangu.”
- African Kalanga
Ngono Esita kashandula eti, “Tetshi wangu apa kumushathisa, ndomukumbila kuti mushingikadze tjandinowokumbila, ndokumbila kuti muzhe na Hamani ku nzano we mabhikwa andinowomululwamisila kakale mangwana, mu tjibaka itjetjo ndipo pandinomubudza tjandinoshaka.”
- English8
If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
African KalangaRead with verses 7–8 above in the source edition.
- English9
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
African KalangaZhuba ilelo Hamani wakayenda etshambila pezhugwi akashatha kwazo, koga wakati ebona Modekayi ali pa nkoba wa mambo, asingamilike kene kunlakidza zila imwe koga ye kunteta kazhala bushongola kwazo,
- English10
Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
African Kalangakoga kazwibhata kasilebe tjimwe ngono kayenda ku nzi uwe kanodana bakwinya babe ne nkadzi uwe Zereshi.
- English11
Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
African KalangaNgono Hamani katangisa kuzwikudza mbeli kwabo ngekwe fumwa iye nenge bakololo babe bose. Kababudza ngekwe zila dzose dzaakakudziwa ndi mambo ne nge mamo awe anopinda e makulukota wose ne bashingi bose ba mambo ne kuti bamwe bashingi banafanilo dze kunteta kungapani.
- English12
“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.
African KalangaNgono Hamani kadwilila eti, “Bonani koga na Nfumakadzi Esita akuna mmwe waakoka kuti azhe na mambo ku nzano we mabhikwa kuzhe kwangu koga, ndizo takakokiwa imi na mambo ku zojiwa zwe mangwana.
- English13
But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
African KalangaNenguba kwakajalo ikoku kose akutondishathisa apa nditjabona Modekayi we Njuta atjipa nkoba we bugalo gwa mambo.”
- English14
His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
African KalangaNgono bakwinya babe ne nkadzi uwe Zereshi bakandwa bakati, “Iti kuthamwe thungamakole ye bulefu gunga bhata makumi mabili ana bubili, ngono mangwana mangwanana ukumbile mambo kuti Modekayi asungiligwe muili, kuti ndizo shule unoja mabhikwa na mambo wakashatha.” Ngono matama iyawa kashathisa Hamani ngono thungamakole ikabakwa.
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.