The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Judges 9English
Basumikilisi 9African Kalanga
- English1
Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,
African KalangaKwakati limwe zhuba Abimeleki nkololo wa Jerubhaale kayenda kuna bobasekulu babe ku Shekemu ngono kadwa beludzi gose gwaka mmebabe kati,
- English2
“Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
African Kalanga“Bhuzwani bagali bose be Shekemu muti, ‘Tjakamululwamila nditjipi, ndikuti mubusiwe nge bakololo bose ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka ana kutendeka (77) kene mu busiwe nge ali nng'ompela?’ Kumbulani kuti ndi nyama ne lopa ling'ompela namwi.”
- English3
When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
African KalangaNgono bobasekulu babe bakanonlebelekela matama wose iyawa mu bathu bose be Shekemu. Ngono bose bakadumilana na Abimeleki, ngoti beti, “Mwana we hazwadzi yedu.”
- English4
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers.
African KalangaNgono bakampa shekele dze siliva dzili makumi ali kutendeka (70) kudwa mu ng'umba ya Bhaaleberiti. Abimeleki ka hira bomashwaushingani bakabe ibo batobeli babe.
- English5
He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub- Baal, escaped by hiding.
African KalangaKayenda ku ng'umba ya tate babe ku Ofira ngono kabulaya bana ba tate babe bakololo ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka (70) mu bgwe ling'ompela koga kwakasala Jothamu kologwe tja Jerubhaale ngoti wakabe akabgwata.
- English6
Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.
African KalangaNgono bathu bose be Shekemu ne be Bhetimilo bakakubungana pa nti we N'oko we phanda ku Shekemu, bakathama Abimeleki mambo.
- English7
When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
African KalangaKwakati Jothamu asinakubudziwa ngekwako, katatha pezhugwi kwe Dombo le Gerizimu ngono kabamimilila eti, “Munditeedze imwi bathu be Shekemu kuti ndizo Ndzimu bamuteedze.
- English8
One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
African KalangaKwakati limwe zhuba miti ikayenda kunozwizhodzela mambo, ngono ikadwa nti we ntoba ikati, ‘Uti buse.’
- English9
“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
African Kalanga“Koga nti we ntoba ukashandula uti, ‘Apa ndisiye mafuta angu kene, iwo anokudza midzimu kose ne bathu kuti ndino tungamila miti kene?’
- African Kalanga
“Ngono miti ikadwa nti we mpaya iti, ‘Buya ube mambo wedu.’
- English11
“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
African Kalanga“Koga nti we mpaya ukayishandula uti, ‘Apa ndisiye zipa kwangu ne ntjelo wangu wakanaka ndino tungamila miti kene?’
- African Kalanga
“Ngono miti ikadwa nzhambi iti, ‘Izha iwe uti buse.’
- English13
“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?’
African Kalanga“Ngono nzhambi ukashandula uti, ‘Apa ndingasiya nkumbi wangu iwo unoshathisa kose midzimu ne bathu ndino tungamila miti kene?’
- African Kalanga
“Ngono miti yose ikadwa miwha iti, ‘Buya ube mambo wedu.’
- English15
“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
African Kalanga“Ngono miwha ukashandula miti uti, ‘Nge malebeswa apa mushaka kundizhodza ndibe mambo wenyu, buyani mugale kusi kwe ntutshi wangu, koga apa kusakajalo, moto nga ubhude mu ishaka tje miwha ngono ulotese misida ye Lebhanoni.’
- English16
“Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves–
African Kalanga“Ngono ngwenu, ha ilikuti makashinga tjakanaka nge kugalabgwe nge biga Abimeleki mambo, ha ilikuti makathamila Jerubhaale zubanana ne bensha uwe, ngono ha ilikuti makanthamila tjakabetjakanfanila,
- English17
and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian
African Kalangangoti tate bangu bakamugwila ngono bakalonga butjilo gwabo mu mbatsha nge kumusunungula mu maboko e Bamidiyani.
- English18
(but today you have revolted against my father’s family, murdered his seventy sons on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother)-
African KalangaNgono matjimukila be nsha wa tate bangu nasi, mabulaya bakololo babo bali makumi ali kutendeka (70) mu bgwe ling'ompela, ngono mabiga Abimeleki nkololo we nlandakadzi wabo kube mambo we bathu be Shekemu ngoti ili wa kanyikwenyu.
- English19
if then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too!
African KalangaNgono ndikati, ha mashinga tjakanaka ne kukudza Jerubhaale ne be nsha uwe nasi, ndizo shathilani Abimeleki naiye amushathilebo.
- English20
But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!”
African KalangaNgono ha kusakajalo, moto ngaudwe kuna Abimeleki ngono ulotese bathu be Shekemu ne be Bhetimilo, moto ngaudwe mu bathu be Shekemu ne be Bhetimiko ulotese Abimeleki.”
- English21
Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
African KalangaIpapo Jothamu katizha kayenda ku Bheri, ngono kanogala ikoko ngoti wakabe wotja Abimeleki mwana wa tate babe.
- African Kalanga
Abimeleki wakabusa Iziraela kwe makole matatu.
- English23
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech.
African KalangaNgono Ndzimu ukatumila meya mbi pakati kwa Abimeleki ne bathu be Shekemu, ngono bathu be Shekemu bakathamila Abimeleki kwakabangalala.
- English24
God did this in order that the crime against Jerub- Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
African KalangaNdzimu wakathama ikoku kuti ndizo nlandu wakathamigwa bakololo ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka, kutebugwa kwe lopa labo libgwilizigwe mu mwana wa tatebabo Abimeleki ne mu bathu be Shekemu bakambatsha kubulaya bana ba tate babe.
- English25
In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelech.
African KalangaNdizo bathu be Shekemu bakabiga balume pezhugwi kwe matombo kunlalila, ngono bakatolela bose bakabepinda ipapo, Abimeleki kabudziwa nge kwako.
- English26
Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.
African KalangaNgono Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kayenda ku Shekemu ne bana ba tate babe, ngono bathu be Shekemu bakagalabgwe munli.
- English27
After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
African KalangaBakabhudila ku minda ngono bakakubunganya zhambi ku minda yabo ye mizhambi bakadzitshamba, bakathama nzano bakanongina mu ng'umba ye ndzimu wabo, bakaja bakang'wa ngono bakalonga Abimeleki bhiso.
- English28
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
African KalangaNgono Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kabe eti, “Abimeleki ndiyani, iswi be Shekemu tiboyani kwatinga nshingila? Apa ate ali nkololo wa Jerubhaale, Zebuli ate ali nthusi uwe kene? Shingilani balume be Hamori tate ba Shekemu. Ngekutini takafanila kunshingila?
- English29
If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Call out your whole army!’”
African KalangaHa bathu ibaba babe balipasi kwe ndaulo yangu, ndabe ndowodusa Abimeleki. Ndabe ndowodwa Abimeleki nditi, ‘Paphidza ngwa iyo ubhude.’ ”
- African Kalanga
Kwakati Zebuli ntungamili we nzi ewha matama a Gali nkololo wa Ebedi, kagwadzamoyo kwazo.
- English31
Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
African KalangaKatuma batumwa mu ikowha kuna Abimeleki eti, “Gali nkololo wa Ebedi ne bana batate babe babuya mu Shekemu ngono banodzonga nzi kugwa nawe.
- African Kalanga
Ndizo ngwenu, tjibhuda iwe ne balume babo kuli busiku munobalalila ku shango.
- English33
In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do whatever your hand finds to do.”
African KalangaMu mangwanana zhuba libhuda, mube muzha munzi mu unginilile. Kowoti Gali ne balume baanabo bekunginilila, uthame tjimwe ne tjimwe tjingatubugwa nge maboko awo.”
- English34
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
African KalangaNdizo Abimeleki ne balume bose baakabeanabo bakamilika busiku bakalalila Shekemu nge makupo manna.
- English35
Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate just as Abimelech and his soldiers came out from their hiding place.
African KalangaNdizo Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kabhuda kanoma pa nkoba we nzi, ngono Abimeleki ne balume bakabe banaye bakabhuda mu malalilo.
- English36
When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
African KalangaKwakati Gali ebabona, kadwa Zebuli kati, “Bona bathu banodeluka pezhugwi kwe matombo.” Ngono Zebuli kandwa kati, “Unobona mitutshi ye matombo ilingika se bathu.”
- English37
But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and a company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers’ tree.”
African KalangaKoga Gali kalebeleka kakale kati, “Bona, bathu banodwa pakati kwe tje shango, ngono gupo limwe lodwa tjekundzibo we nti we N'oko.”
- English38
Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
African KalangaIpapo Zebuli kandwa kati, “Aponi matama awo awaleba uti, ‘Abimeleki ndiyani kwatingabe pasi kukwe kene?’ Apa ateibo balume bawakatuka ibaba kene? Bhuda unogwa nabo.”
- African Kalanga
Gali katungamila bathu be Shekemu kunogwa na Abimeleki.
- English40
Abimelech chased him, and many fell wounded in the flight–all the way to the entrance to the gate.
African KalangaNgono Abimeleki kantatamila ngono katizha, banji bakabulawa kunoti tjose ku nkoba we nzi.
- African Kalanga
Abimeleki kagala ku Aruma, Zebuli katata Gali ne bana batate babe mu Shekemu.
- English42
The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
African KalangaKwakati tjimuka, bathu be Shekemu bakayenda ku minda, ngono kukabudziwa Abimeleki
- English43
So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.
African KalangaKatola balume babe kabathubukanya kube makupo matatu, ngono kabalalila ku minda, kalinga kabona bathu bebhuda mu nzi, ngono kabamukila kababulaya.
- English44
Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance to the city gate. Then two companies rushed upon those in the fields and struck them down.
African KalangaAbimeleki ne goko lakabelinaye bakalibilidzila mbeli ngono bakanoma pa nkoba we nzi, ipapo makupo mabili akalibilidzila kuna bose bakabebali ku minda ngono bakababulaya.
- English45
All that day Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
African KalangaNgono Abimeleki kagwa ne nzi zhuba lose, katola nzi ngono kabulaya bose bakabebali mukati. Kalobesa nzi ngono kapaladzila mwenyu muuli.
- English46
On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El- Berith.
African KalangaKwakati bathu be thungamakole ye Shekemu bewha nge kwako, bakangina mu matizhilo e ng'umba ya Elibheriti.
- African Kalanga
Abimeleki wakabe abudziwa kuti bathu bose be thungamakole ye Shekemu bakubungana.
- English48
he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!”
African KalangaAbimeleki ne bathu bose bakabe banaye bakatathila ku Dombo le Zalimoni, ngono Abimeleki kabhata shathu nge luboko gugwe kathubula matabi, kaasenga nge mathudzi. Kadwa balume bakabe banaye kati, “Libilidzani muthame tjamabona ndithama.”
- English49
So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire over the people inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
African KalangaNdizo balume bose bakatema matabi bakatobela Abimeleki. Bakaabutitika pa ng'umba ye matizhilo ngono bakayipisa nge moto bathu bali mukati. Ndizo bathu bose be thungamakole ye Shekemu bakafabo, kungabe tjiwulu (1 000) tje balume ne betjikadzi.
- African Kalanga
Kudwa ipapo Abimeleki kayenda ku Thebesi kayikomba nge ngwa ngono kayitapa.
- English51
Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women–all the people of the city–fled. They locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.
African KalangaKoga kwakabekuna thungamakole yakasima munzi, bathu bose bakatizhila ku ili, betjilume ne betjikadzi ngono bakazwizhalilila muili, bakatathila ku denga le thungamakole.
- English52
Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,
African KalangaAbimeleki kayenda ku thungamakole kayigwisa. Koga wakati atjasedzela ku nkoba wayo kuti ayipise nge moto,
- African Kalanga
mmwe nkadzi kaligila hibgwe mu nsholo wa Abimeleki uka pkhwanyika.
- English54
Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died.
African KalangaAkadana nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kandwa kati, “Shomola thumo lilo undibulaye, bathu basidwe beti, ‘Wakabulawa nge nkadzi.’ ” Ngono nzhuzha kambhaya kafa.
- African Kalanga
Kwakati balume be Iziraela bebona kuti Abimeleki wafa, nthu mmwe ne mmwe akabgwilila kanyi kukwe.
- English56
Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
African KalangaNdiko Ndzimu sekwa wakabgwilizila Abimeleki bubi gwaakathamila tate babe ngo bulaya bakulu babe bali makumi ali kutendeka.
- English57
God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
African KalangaNdzimu ukathamabo kuti mbipo yose yakathamiwa nge bathu be Shekemu iwile mu misholo yabo. Bhiso la Jothamu nkololo wa Jerubhaale likabawila.
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.