The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Joshua 22English
Joshuwa 22African Kalanga
- African Kalanga
Joshuwa wakadana be ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase
- English2
and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded.
African Kalangangono kabadwa kati, “Makalondolodza kose kwamakadwiwa ndi Mushe nlanda wa Yahwe, kakale makabe mushinga kose kwandakabe ndi mudwa.
- English3
For a long time now–to this very day–you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you.
African KalangaAmuzotongo letjedzela zwikamu zwenyu muzwibaka zwinjinji kuswikila nasi, koga makabe nako kuti muthame itjo tjamakabe mudwiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu kuti mutjithame.
- English4
Now that the Lord your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
African KalangaNgono ngwenu Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu watjipa zwikamu zwenyu kunyaluluka koga sekwa akabe abagadzabgwe, ndizo ngwenu bgwililani ku mizi yenyu ku shango yamakapiwa seli ye gwizi gwe Jorodani ndi Mushe nlanda wa Yahwe.
- English5
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”
African KalangaMubone kuti molondolodza ndaulo ne milayo yamakapiwa ndi Mushe nlanda wa Yahwe, kuda Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu, kulondolodza zila dzabo dzose ne kubhulutana ndayo ne kuzwibhatilila mubali ne kubashingila nge moyo wose ne meya dzenyu dzose.”
- African Kalanga
Ngono Joshuwa kabakombolela kabapa zila bakayenda ku mizi yabo.
- English7
(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,
African KalangaMushe wakabe apa gwamu limwe le ludzi gwa Manase shango mu Bhashani kuti ibe thaka yabo, ngono gwamu limwe labo Joshuwa wakalipa shango ikunomila zhuba kwe gwizi gwe Jorodani. Ngono kwakati Joshuwa ebapa zila kabakombolela ngono
- English8
saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth–with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing–and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies.”
African Kalangakabadwa kati, “Yendani ku mizi yenyu nge fumwa yenyu isi shoma, ye zwithuwo zwisizwishoma ne siliva ne golide ne phangula ne butale ne zwiambalo zwinjinji ngono muswike mukobele bo bamwe zwamakatapa mu zwita zwenyu.”
- English9
So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.
African KalangaNdizo ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakabgwilila kanyi kwabo, bethubukana ne Baiziraela ku Shilo, mu shango ye Kanana, beyenda ku shango yabo ye Giliyadi yabakapiwa nge ndaulo ya Yahwe yabakapa Mushe.
- English10
When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.
African KalangaBakati bali mu zila beyenda kanyi kwabo bakaswika mu ntuthu we Geliloti umu shango ye Kanana pejo ne gwizi gwe Jorodani, bathu be ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakabaka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjikulukulu tjakanaka wunde ye gwizi gwe Jorodani.
- English11
And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,
African KalangaNgono Baiziraela bakawha kuti bathu be Rubheni ne be Gadi babaka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo ku ndzibo uku gwizi gwe Jorodani kwakalingisana ne shango ye Kanana.
- African Kalanga
Ngono Baiziraela bakati bewha ngekwako bakanozwikubunganya ku Shilo kuti ndizo bagwe nabo.
- English13
So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead–to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
African KalangaNdizo Baiziraela bakatuma Finihasi nkololo wa Eleazari we mpirisiti ku bathu be ludzi gwa Rubheni na Gadi negwe gwamu limwe le ludzi gwa Manase mu shango ye Giliyadi.
- English14
With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.
African KalangaBakantuma ne goko le batungamili bali gumi mmwe ne mmwe ali nsholo we nsha mu njudzi dze Iziraela
- African Kalanga
Bakati beswika ku nzi we Giliyadi bakadwa bathu be ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu limwe le ludzi gwa Manase bakati,
- English16
“The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?
African Kalanga“Tatumwa nge gubungano la Yahwe ngono toshakaziba kuti ini mashaya kugalabgwe mu Ndzimu we Iziraela kene? Ini mafupatila Ndzimu we Iziraela saikoku kene, mu kupanduka kwenyu mube muzwibakila tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo kene?
- English17
Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord!
African KalangaTjibi tjawakathamila Yahwe tili ku Peori tjatisathu tikazwitjenapadza mu tjili ne tjifo tjakawila gubungano la Yahwe azwizolizana kene?
- English18
And are you now turning away from the Lord? “ ‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel.
African KalangaNdiko nasi kwamunga fupatila Yahwe kene? Ha mupandukila Yahwe nasi banowomuka mangwana bezhalila gubungano le Baiziraela bushongola.
- English19
If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord ‘s land, where the Lord ‘s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God.
African KalangaNdizo ngwenu ha shango yamakapiwa yakatemapala, izhani ku shango ya Yahwe iko kuna bugalo gwe Ndzimu, ngono mugale naswi mu shango yedu. Koga musi pandukile Yahwe kene iswi ngo zwibakila tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo kusi tja Yahwe Ndzimu wedu.
- English20
When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”
African KalangaApa Akani nkololo wa Zera wakati asalondolodza tjabakabe badwiwa ngekwe zwija zwabakayi basitole, apa bushongola gwa Yahwe aguzowila gubungano lose le Iziraela kene? Akani azofila jinyo lile ega.”
- English21
Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel:
African KalangaBe ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakashandula batungamili be bathu be Iziraela beti,
- English22
“The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day.
African Kalanga“Masimbawose ndibo Ndzimu! Ndzimu ndiwo Yahwe! Banoziba kuti ini tathama saikoku, ngono toshaka kuti namwi mose nasi muzibe bo! Ha ili kuti ikoku bupanduki kene sateedza Yahwe mutibulaye ngwenu.
- English23
If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.
African KalangaHa tazwibakila tjibeso tjedu tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo kuti ndizo tikowofupatila Yahwe, tibetidusa zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa ne zwe mathunde kene zwe moyo ntjena mutjili Yahwe ngaba tibone nlandu.
- English24
“No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?
African KalangaAa, tathama saikoku ngotja kuti limwe zhuba zwizekugwana zwenyu zwingadwa zwizekugwana zwedu zwiti, ‘Gobe lenyu mu Ndzimu we Iziraela ini?’
- English25
The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you–you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.
African KalangaNgoti Yahwe bakathama kuti gwizi gwe Jorodani gube n'gathu pakati kwedu namwi, imwi Barubheni namwi Bagadi amuna gobe muna Yahwe. Ndizo zwizekugwana zwenyu zwingathama kuti zwizekugwana zwedu zwisitongo namata Yahwe.
- English26
“That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar–but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’
African KalangaNdizo tati, ‘Ngati bakeni tjibeso tjisi tje zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa kene zwimwe koga,
- English27
On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’
African Kalangakoga tjibe butendeki pakati kwedu namwi ne pakati kwe bana bedu banozha kuti towonamata Yahwe mu bugalo gwabo gwa kayengemala, tibetiyisa zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa ne zwimwe ne zwe moyo ntjena, tithamila kuti mangwana bana benyu basitongodwa bana bedu beti abana gobe muna Yahwe.’
- English28
“And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord ‘s altar, which our fathers built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
African KalangaTakakumbula titi ha kungati limwe zhuba tikadwiwa saikoku kene kudwiwa bana bedu saikoku, tingadabila titi, ‘Bonani tjifano tje tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe tjakabakiwa ndi bobatategulu bedu, tjisinga bakigwe kuti tjipisigwe zwibhayilo kene tjidusigwe zwibhayilo, koga tjibakigwa kuti tjibe butendeki pakati kwedu namwi.’
- English29
“Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”
African KalangaNgono gwenu ngakube kutjena naswi kuti tingapandukila Yahwe ngono tikabafupatila ngobaka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa ne zwe mathunde ne zwibhayilo koga kusi tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe Ndzimu wedu tjakabakwa pa bugalo gwe Ndzimu.”
- English30
When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community–the heads of the clans of the Israelites– heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased.
African KalangaKwakati mpirisiti Finihasi ne batungamili be gubungano ne wola dze misha ye Iziraela bewha matama akabe elebgwa ne bathu be ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakagutshika.
- English31
And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord ‘s hand.”
African KalangaNgono Finihasi we mpirisiti nkololo wa Eleazari kadwa ludzi gwa Rubheni negwa Gadi ne gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase kati, “Nasi toziba kuti Yahwe bayapo pakati kwedu, ngobe amuzo bapandukila. Ngwenu matjidza Baiziraela mu shamu ya Yahwe.”
- English32
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.
African KalangaKudwapo Finihasi ne batungamili bakasiya Barubheni ne Bagadi mu shango ye Giliyadi bakashandukila ku shango ye Kanana kubamwe Baiziraela ngono bakaswika bebabikila.
- English33
They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.
African KalangaMbiko yakashathisa Baiziraela, ngono bakakudza Ndzimu. Bakamisa kululwamisila kunokolomola nge ngwa shango ye Giliyadi yakabe igala bathu be ludzi gwa Rubheni ne gwa Gadi.
- English34
And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.
African KalangaBarubheni ne Bagadi bakadana tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo beti, “Ntendeki wedu namwi kuti Yahwe ba 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.