The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Judges 6English
Basumikilisi 6African Kalanga
- English1
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.
African KalangaNgono bathu be Iziraela bakathama mbipo kakale mu mesho a Yahwe, ngono Yahwe bakabalonga mu maboko e Bamidiyani kwe makole ali kutendeka.
- English2
Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.
African KalangaNgoti simba le Bamidiyani lakatshambilidza Baiziraela, Baiziraela bakazwibakila mishasha mu matombo nemu makuwu ne matizhilo.
- English3
Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.
African KalangaKwakabe kuti apa Baiziraela badzwala, Bamidiyani ne Baamaleki ne bathu be kubhezhuba bakabezha bebanginilila,
- English4
They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.
African Kalangabakakomba shango bekolomodza zwidzwalo kunoti tjose ku Gaza ngono kusina zojiwa zwabanosiyila Baiziraela, kene iyo pkhwizi kene ng'ombe kene donki.
- English5
They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.
African KalangaBakabe bebuya ne ng'ombe dzabo ne mishasha yabo bali nlunda se phashu nge bunji, ibo kose ne kamela dzabo bakabe basingabalike. Bakanginilila shango bakaithukudza.
- African Kalanga
Bamidiyani bakapedza Baiziraela simba kwabakadzina bakalilila bhatsho kuna Yahwe.
- African Kalanga
Kwakati Baiziraela balilila kuna Yahwe ngekwe Bamidiyani,
- English8
he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
African KalangaYahwe bakatumila nlebesambeli ku bathu be Iziraela, ngono kabadwa kati, “Tjinoleba Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela ndiyetji, ndakamudusa mu Egipiti, ndimudusa mu busungwa,
- English9
I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.
African Kalangandakamusunungula mu luboko gwe Baegipiti ne mu luboko gwa bose bakamutshambilidza, ngono ndikabatata mbeli kwenyu ndikamupa shango yabo,
- English10
I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
African Kalangangono ndakamudwa nditi, ‘Ndimi Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu, musitongo thigamila midzimu ye Baamoni, ibo be shango yamunogala.’ Koga amuzonditeedza.”
- English11
The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.
African KalangaNtumwa wa Yahwe kazha kagala kusi kwe nti we N'oko ku Ofira nzi wa Joashi we Abiyezeri, pakabe Gidiyoni e pulila mathunde kunuswinigwa nkumbi we zhambi, ku asumbikila Bamidiyani.
- English12
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
African KalangaNgono Ntumwa wa Yahwe kazwilakidza kuna Gidiyoni ngono ukandwa uti, “Yahwe banawe, iwe mbhayani wakasima.”
- English13
“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”
African KalangaGidiyoni kashandula eti, “Au, Apa Yahwe banaswi, nekutini ngono tashingikaligwa nge tjakajali kene? Matjenamiso abo wose angayi atakabudziwa ndi bobatategulu bedu beti, ‘Apa Yahwe abazotidusa ku Egipiti kene?’ Koga ngwenu Yahwe batilasha, ngono batilonga mu maboko e Bamidiyani.”
- English14
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
African KalangaNgono Yahwe bakatendebukila kunli bakati, “Yenda mu simba launalo ngono usunungule Baiziraela mu luboko gwe Bamidiyani, Apa anditokutuma kene?”
- English15
“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
African KalangaNgono Gidiyoni kati, “Apa ndowosunungula Baiziraela tjini kene? Bonani, Ludzi gwangu gutukununu pana gwa Manase, kakale ndimi ntjetjana mu bana batate.”
- English16
The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
African KalangaYahwe bakandwa beti, “Koga ndowobenawe, unowokunda Bamidiyani kukanga ungati nthu ung'ompela.”
- English17
Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
African KalangaGidiyoni kashandula eti, “Ha ndawana mawhilongoni mu mesho enyu, mundipe tjilakidzo tjekuti ndimwi munolebeleka nami.
- English18
Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.”
African KalangaNdokumbila musiyende kuswikila ndibuya ndizhisa tjibhayilo nditjibiga mbeli kwenyu.” Yahwe bakashandula beti, “Ndowolinda kuswikila ushanduka.”
- English19
Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
African KalangaNdizo Gidiyoni kangina mu ng'umba kalulwamisa tjibudzana ne tjiwunga tjisina mbidzo tje bgwisa gwe efa. Kalonga nyama mu itundu, kadila sopo mu hali, kazwiyisa ku nli kusi kwe N'oko, kazwibiga panli.
- English20
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.
African KalangaNgono ntumwa we Ndzimu kandwa kati, “Tola nyama ne tjiwunga tjisina mbidzo uzwibige mu shongwe iyeyi, ngono utebulile sopo muzwili.” Ngono kathama eyijalo.
- English21
With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.
African KalangaIpapo ntumwa wa Yahwe katola ludozo gwaakabe akabhata, kashwaya nyama ne tjiwunga tjisina mbidzo nge theswi yago, ngono kukathuta moto mu shongwe ukaja nyama ne tjiwunga tjisina mbidzo, ngono ntumwa wa Yahwe kanyelela mu mesho awe.
- English22
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”
African KalangaKwakati Gidiyoni atjibona kuti kwabe kuli ntumwa wa Yahwe kati, “Yee mme wee! She Yahwe bangu! Ndabona ntumwa wa Yahwe takalingisanya njiso.”
- African Kalanga
Koga Yahwe bakandwa beti, “Kunyalala kube nawe, usitje autowofa.”
- English24
So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
African KalangaNdizo Gidiyoni kabakila Yahwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo ikoko ngono katjidana eti Yahwe ndibo kunyalala. Nanasi tjitji ku Ofira ye Baabiyezeri.
- English25
That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
African KalangaBusiku igogo Yahwe bakandwa beti, “Tola nkono wa tate babo we bubili una makole ali kutendeka, ngono ulige tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Bhaale itjo tate babo tjabanatjo, utemele pasi ndzimukadzi Ashera u whunde natjo,
- English26
Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.”
African Kalangangono ubakile Yahwe Ndzimu uwo tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo pakatuthumala, u walile nge mabgwe, kudwapo utole nkono we bubili kube tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa nge whuni dze ndzimukadzi Ashera dzaunowotemela pasi.”
- English27
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
African KalangaNdizo Gidiyoni katola balume bali gumi be balanda babe ngono kathama sekwa abudziwa ndi Yahwe, ngoti wakabe etja be nsha uwe kwazo ne balume be nzi nkulu kuthama masikati, wakathama busiku.
- English28
In the morning when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!
African KalangaKwakati balume be nzi nkulu bemuka kuli mangwanana, bonani, tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Bhaale tjikabe tjakaligwa, ngono ne ndzimukadzi Ashera whunde yatjo akaligiwa, ndizo nkono we bubili ukadusiwa se tjibhayilo pezhugwi kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjakabakiwa.
- English29
They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
African KalangaNgono bakabhuzwana beti, “Ndiyani wathama ikoko?” Ngono kwakati bashakisisa nge kwako, bakati, “Gidiyoni nkololo wa Joashi wathama ikoko.”
- English30
The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
African KalangaNgono balume be nzi nkulu bakadwa Joashi bakati, “Zhisa nkololo uwo, timbulaye, ngoti wakaliga tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Bhaale katema ndzimukadzi Ashera whunde natjo.”
- English31
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.”
African KalangaKoga Joashi kadwa bose bakabebakampoteleka kati, “Apa molebelekela Bhaale kene? Apa mombakilila kene? Iye unonlebelekela unowobulawa kuli mangwanana. Apa ali ndzimwana, ngaazwilebelekele ngoti tjibeso tjitje tje zwibhayilo tjaligiwa.”
- English32
So that day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal, “ saying, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.
African KalangaNdizo zhuba ilelo Gidiyoni wakadang'wa Jerubhaale, ndiko kuyi, “Bhaale ngaagwe naye,” ngoti wakaliga tjibeso tjitje tje zwibhayilo.
- English33
Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
African KalangaIpapo bathu bose be Midiyani ne Amaleki ne bathu be kubhezhuba bakashangana, ngono bakatjuluka gwizi gwe Jorodani bakakotokela pa nkuku wa Jezirele.
- English34
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
African KalangaNgono Meya ya Yahwe ikazha muna Gidiyoni, kalidza lunyanga, ngono kadana Baabiyezeri kunsala shule.
- English35
He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
African KalangaNgono katuma batumwa mu Manase yose, ngono naibobo bakadang'wa kunsala shule. Katuma batumwa ku ludzi gwa Ashera ne gwa Zebuluni ne gwa Nafutali, ngono bakatathila kubashanganidza.
- African Kalanga
Gidiyoni kadwa Ndzimu kati, “Apa munga sunungula Iziraela nge luboko gwangu sekwa makagadzabgwe,
- English37
look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”
African KalangaBonani, ndobiga debgwe mu lubuwa. Ha kungabe ne khawa koga mu debgwe ngono pasi kwakawoma, ipapo ndowoziba kuti mowosunungula Iziraela nge luboko gwangu, sekwa makaleba.”
- English38
And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew–a bowlful of water.
African KalangaNgono kukashingikala kuyijalo. Kwakati emuka tjimuka mangwanana kaswina debgwe, kukabhuda vula inozhala ndilo.
- English39
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”
African KalangaIpapo Gidiyoni kadwa Ndzimu kati, “Musindigwadzilemoyo. Ndina kumbilo yandinoshaka thama, mundidumile ndilike kakale nge debgwe, ndokumbila muthame kuti debgwe liwome, ngono pasi kube ne khawa.”
- African Kalanga
Ngono Ndzimu bakathama beyijalo busiku igogo, debgwe lakabe lakawoma, ngono pasi kuna khawa.
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.