The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Ezra 10English
Ezera 10African Kalanga
- English1
While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites–men, women and children– gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.
African KalangaKwakati Ezera akabhata etembezela, ezwileba milandu iye, elila ezwilashila pasi mbeli kwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu, kukazha mbunga we bathu be Iziraela, balume, bakadzi ne bana ngono bakankubunganila. Bakalila kunowisazogwadza.
- English2
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.
African KalangaNgono Shekaniya nkololo wa Jehiele mmwe we zwizekugwana zwa Elamu, kabe eti kuna Ezera, “Takashaya kugalamoyo mu Ndzimu wedu nge kulobola bakadzi be njudzi dzipoga, be bathu batakabakidzana nabo. Ngono kuzhe kwa ikoko, kutjina kugalabgwe mu Iziraela.
- English3
Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
African KalangaNgono ngwenu ngatithameni tjidumano ne Ndzimu tje kuti titate bakadzi ibaba ne bana babo, kuyendidzana ne ikumbuludzo tja she wangu ne tja ibabo banotja nlayo we Ndzimu wedu. Ngakuthamwe sekwa kuli iko mu nlayo.
- African Kalanga
Tola thambo, ngekuti nshingo uwo, kakale tinawe, sima ndizo uthame uijalo.”
- English5
So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath.
African KalangaEzera wakamilika katola bapirisiti banolaula ne Balevi ne itjaba tje Iziraela kabatunisa kuti bathame tja lebgwa. Ngono bakatuna.
- English6
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
African KalangaEzera wakadwa pa Ng'umba ye Ndzimu kayenda ku ng'umba ya Jehohanani nkololo wa Eliyashibi. Ngono wakati ali ikoko, wakabe asingaje zojiwa asingang'we vula, nge kuti wakabe akadwilila nge kulila, ngobe bathu bakabuya kutapiwa bakabe basagalamoyo.
- English7
A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem.
African KalangaZibiso yakadusiwa kukazibisiwa ntuthu wose we Juda ne Jerusalema kuti bose bakabuya kutapiwa bakubungane ku Jerusalema.
- English8
Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
African KalangaNgono unokong'wa ngekuzha mu mazhuba matatu unowotolegwa zwija zwizwe zose, se tjidumano tje batungamili ne makulukota tjakadumaniwa, ngono unowodusiwa mu gubungano le bakabuya kutapiwa katatiwa.
- English9
Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain.
African KalangaKwakati mu mazhuba matatu balume bose be nsha wa Juda ne wa Bhenjamini bakakubungana mu Jerusalema. Mu mwedzi we zhanalume ushwa mazhuba ali makumi mabili bathu bose bakabe baligele mu tjibata tjimbeli kwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu, betetemesiwa nge tjimo ne nge vula yakabe ina kwazo.
- English10
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.
African KalangaEzera we mpirisiti wakamilika kabadwa kati, “Amuzobe ne kugalamoyo, makalobola bakadzi be njudzi dzipoga mupaphidza nlandu we Iziraela.
- English11
Now make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
African KalangaNgono gwenu mu zwilebe milandu yenyu kuna Yahwe Ndzimu wa bobatategulu benyu, ngono mu thame kuda kwawo. Mu zwithubukanye mu bathu be njudzi dzipoga bamakabapa nabo ne mu bakadzi benyu be njudzi dzipoga.”
- African Kalanga
Mbunga wose ukadabila nge whi lipezhugwi uti, “Unolebesa takafanila thama sekwa unoleba.
- English13
But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing.
African KalangaKoga kuna bathu banjinji ipapa kakale tjibaka tje vula ina, ndizo atingame kuzhe, koga ikoku ate uli nshingo we zhuba ling'ompela kene mabili ngoti takathama nlandu nkulukulu kwazo.
- English14
Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
African KalangaMakulukota edu ngaamilile gubungano lose. Mmwe ne mmwe wakalobola nkadzi we ludzi gupoga azhe nge tjibaka tjakabigwa, azhe ne bakulu ne basumikilisi mu nzi nkulu mmwe ne mmwe, kuswikilila bushongola gwe Ndzimu wedu gunotjisa ngekwa ikoku gupela mutili.”
- English15
Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
African KalangaJonatani nkololo wa Asahele na Jahazeya nkololo wa Tikiva ndibo koga bakabe basingadumane na itjetji, Meshulamu na Shabethayi we Nlevi bema nabo.
- English16
So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases,
African KalangaNgono batapiwa bakashinga sekwalebgwa. Ezera we mpirisiti kashalula balume bakabe bali misholo ye misha kuyenda nge misha yabo ngono kakwala mazina abo. Mu zhuba le kutanga le mwedzi we bugumi bakagala pasi bakashakisisa ngekwe ndebo iyeyi.
- English17
and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
African KalangaNgono mu zhuba le kutanga le mwedzi we kutanga bakapedza ngekwe ndebo ye balume bakalobola bakadzi be njudzi dzipoga.
- English18
Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women: From the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah.
African KalangaMu bakololo be bapirisiti bakabe bakalobola bakadzi be njudzi dzipoga: Kudwa mu bakololo ba Jeshuwa nkololo wa Jozadaki ne banung'una babe: Maaseya na Eliezeri na Jaribu na Gedaliya.
- English19
(They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)
African KalangaBakagadzabgwe kuthubukana ne bakadzi babo be njudzi dzipoga ngono bakadusa tjibhayilo tje nlandu nyundo bedusila nlandu wabo.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Imeri ndi Hanani na Zebadiya.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Harimu ndi Maaseya, Elija na Shemaya na Jehiele na Uziya.
- English22
From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
African KalangaKudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Phashuri ndi Eliyonayi na Ishimaele na Nethanele na Jozabadi na Eleasa.
- English23
Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.
African KalangaKudwa mu Balevi ndi Jozabadi na Shimeyi na Kelaya (limwe ili Kelita) na Pethahiya na Juda na Eliezeri.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu bambi ndi Eliyashibi. Kudwa mu balisi be mikoba ndi Shalumu, Telemu na Uri.
- English25
And among the other Israelites: From the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.
African KalangaKudwa mu bamwe Baiziraela: Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Paroshi ndi Ramiya na Iziya na Malikija na Mijamini na Eleazari na Malikija na Bhenaya.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Elamu ndi Mataniya na Zekariya na Jehiele na Abudi na Jeremoti na Elija.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Zatu ndi Eliyonayi na Eliyashibi na Mataniya na Jeremoti na Zabadi na Aziza.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Bhebayi ndi Jehohanani na Hananiya na Zabhayi na Athilayi.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Bhani ndi Meshulamu na Maluki na Adaya Jashubu na Sheale na Jeremoti.
- English30
From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.
African KalangaKudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Pahatimoabu ndi Adina na Kelale na Bhenaya na Maaseya na Mataniya na Bhezaleli na Bhinuyi na Manase.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Harimu ndi Eliezeri na Ishiya na Malikija na Shemaya na Simiyoni na
- African Kalanga
Bhenjamini na Maluki na Shemariya.
- English33
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.
African KalangaKudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Hashumu ndi Matenayi na Matata na Zabadi na Elifeleti na Jeremayi na Manase na Shimeyi.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Bhani ndi Maadayi, Amuramu na Uyele
- African Kalanga
na Bhenaya na Bhedeya na Keluhi
- African Kalanga
na Vaniya na Meremoti na Eliyashibi
- African Kalanga
na Mataniya na Matenayi na Jaasu.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Bhani na Bhinuyi ndi Shimeyi,
- African Kalanga
Shelemiya na Nathani na Adaya
- African Kalanga
na Makanadebayi na Shashayi na Sharayi
- African Kalanga
na Azarele na Shelemiya na Shemariya
- African Kalanga
na Shalumu na Amariya na Josefa.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa mu zwizekugwana zwa Nebo ndi Jeyele na Mathitiya na Zabadi na Zebina na Jadayi na Jowele na Bhenaya.
- African Kalanga
Bose ibaba ndibo bakabe bakalobola bakadzi be njudzi dzipoga, bamwe babo bakabe bana bana ne bakadzi ibaba.
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.