The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Exodus 19English
Kufuluka 19African Kalanga
- English1
In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt–on the very day–they came to the Desert of Sinai.
African KalangaMu mwedzi ugala we butatu Baiziraela babhuda mu shango ye Egipiti, muna ilelo zhuba bakaswika mu tjilambanyika tje Sinai.
- English2
After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
African KalangaBakati bamilika mu Refidimu bakaswika mu tjilambanyika tje Sinai bakakotokela mu tjili. Bakakotokela kulingisana ne dombo.
- English3
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:
African KalangaMushe katathila pezhugwi ku Ndzimu, ngono Yahwe bakan'dana bali mu dombo bakati, “Etji nditjo tjaunowoleba ku ng'umba ya Jakubo, ubudze bathu be Iziraela uti:
- English4
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
African KalangaMakabona tjandakathama mu Baegipiti, mukabona sekwa ndakamusumbika nge mapapilo e dzu amuzhisa kundili.
- English5
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
African KalangaNdizo ngwenu wali, ha mungandiwha mukalondolodza tjidumano tjangu, mowobe bangu pakati kwe njudzi dzose ngoti shango yose nge yangu.
- English6
you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
African KalangaMowobe kundili muli bushe gwe bupirisiti muli ludzi gwakayengemala. Awa ndiwo matama aunowobudza bana be Iziraela.”
- English7
So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.
African KalangaNdizo Mushe kazha kadana bakulu be Baiziraela kababudza matama wose iyawa aakadwiwa ndi Yahwe.
- English8
The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
African KalangaBathu bose bakadabila kang'ompela beti, “Kose kwalebgwa ndi Yahwe towokushinga.” Ndizo Mushe kanobika matama e bathu kuna Yahwe.
- English9
The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
African KalangaYahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, “Bona, ndozha ku kuli ndili mu gole laka tizwi, kuti nditi ndilebeleka nawe bathu bewha, kuti ndizo bakugalebgwe kuyendila mbeli.” Ipapo Mushe kabudza Yahwe matama e bathu.
- English10
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes
African KalangaYahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, “Yenda ku bathu ubatjenapadze nasi na mangwana, ubadwe basuke zwiambalo zwabo.
- English11
and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
African KalangaNgono muzwilulwamisile zhuba le butatu, ngono nge zhuba le butatu Yahwe banowodelukila pezhugwi kwe Dombo le Sinai mu mesho e bathu bose.
- English12
Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
African KalangaUbigile bathu migathu kupoteleka, ubadwe uti, ‘Yelani njele musitongo tathila pezhugwi kwe dombo kene kuli kukutha migathu yalo; iye ungakutha dombo ileli unowobulawa.
- English13
He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.”
African KalangaAkuna luboko gunowonkutha, koga unowokikithidziwa nge mabgwe kene kabhayiwa nge nsebe, ikoku kowoshingikalila bathu kose ne phuka.’ Koga ha lunyanga gulilila pezhugwi, ndiko bathu kwabanowotathila pezhugwi kwe dombo.”
- English14
After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
African KalangaNdizo Mushe kadeluka dombo kayenda ku bathu kabatjenapadza, ibo bakasuka zwiambalo zwabo.
- English15
Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
African KalangaMushe kadwa bathu kati, “Mube makalulwama nge zhuba le butatu, musitongo shanganyila ngubo ne nkadzi.”
- English16
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
African KalangaNge zhuba le butatu kukabe ne matutu ne kupenya kwe vula ne gole lakatizwi pezhugwi kwe dombo ne lunyanga gukalilila pezhugwi, ngekwa ikoku bathu bose bamu mishasha bakatetema.
- English17
Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
African KalangaIpapo Mushe kadusa bathu mu mishasha kunoshangana ne Ndzimu, bakayenda bakanoma pa whunde ye dombo.
- English18
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently,
African KalangaDombo le Sinai likakwitidziwa nge busi lose, ngobe Yahwe badelukila pezhugwi kwalo bali mu moto. Busi gwalo gukamilikila pezhugwi se gwe bibi, dombo lose likatengenyeka kwazo.
- English19
and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
African KalangaNgono kukati kulila kwe lunyanga kukulidzika, Mushe kalebeleka ngono Ndzimu bakanshandula nge kudadamula.
- English20
The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
African KalangaYahwe bakadelukila pezhugwi kwe Dombo le Sinai, ku tjilungwani tje dombo; ngono Yahwe bakadanila Mushe pezhugwi kwe dombo, ndizo Mushe katathila pezhugwi.
- English21
and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish.
African KalangaYahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, “Delukila pasi unodwa bathu kuti basitongo tjuluka migathu kuwondibona, bunjinji gwabo gungadwa guloba.
- English22
Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”
African KalangaBapirisiti banozha pejo na Yahwe na ibobo bazwitjenapadze Yahwe basitongodwa bebaloba shamu.”
- English23
Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
African KalangaMushe kabe eti kuna Yahwe, “Bathu abangatathe Dombo le Sinai ngoti imwi nge kwenyu matidwa mukati, ‘Bigani migathu kupoteleka dombo muliyengemadze.’ ”
- English24
The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”
African KalangaYahwe bakandwa bakati, “Deluka unobuya na Aroni; koga udwe bapirisiti ne bathu bose basitongotjuluka migathu bezha kuna Yahwe, Yahwe bangadwa bebaloba shamu.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo Mushe kadeluka mu dombo kanobudza bathu tjalebgwa ndi 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.