The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Nehemiah 1English
Nehemiya 1African Kalanga
- English1
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
African KalangaAwa matama akalebgwa ndi Nehemiya nkololo wa Hakaliya: Kwakati mu mwedzi we Khisilevi mu gole le bumakumi mabili Atazezasi ali mambo imi ndikabe ndili mu nzi nkulu Susa,
- English2
Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
African Kalangakukazha mmwe we banung'una bangu Hanani ana bamwe balume banodwa ku Juda, ngono ndakababhuzwisisa ngekwe malimbelimbe e Bajuta angadwa akasala mu kutapiwa, ne ngekwe nzi nkulu Jerusalema.
- English3
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
African KalangaNgono bakandidwa bakati, “Malimbelimbe akasala ku ntuthu mu kutapiwa bamu manikano whulu kwazo ne kulengudzika kukulu kwazo. Guma le Jerusalema lakawa ne matendele alo akapisiwa nge moto.”
- English4
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
African KalangaNdakati ndiwha matama iyawa agala pasi alila, ndakabe mu tjililo kwe mazhuba ndizwinyima zojiwa ne kutembezela Ndzimu we kudzimu.
- English5
Then I said: “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
African KalangaNgono ndakatembezela nditi, “Yahwe Ndzimu we kudzimu, Ndzimu nkulu kakale unotjisa, imwi munoshingikadza tjidumano tjenyu kuna bose banomuda kakale belondolodza milayo yenyu.
- English6
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
African KalangaBonani ndipano, mu ndiwheni mube ne ngoni mu nlanda wenyu, anditembezela siku ne sikati, ndikumbilila balanda benyu bathu be Iziraela, ndileba milandu yakathamwa ne balanda benyu, bathu be Iziraela, imi nebe nsha wangu takamutjinyila.
- English7
We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
African KalangaTakamuleyanyila kwazo kakale atizolondolodza ndaulo dzenyu ne milayo yenyu ne sumikiliso dzenyu dza makapa nlanda wenyu Mushe.
- English8
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
African Kalanga“Kumbulani matama amakadwa nlanda wenyu Mushe muti, ‘Amusinga galemoyo, ndowomupaladza mukabe pakati kwe zwitjaba.
- English9
but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
African KalangaKoga amushandukila ku ndili, mulondolodza milayo yangu kakale muishingikadza, nenguba kuna bamwe be bathu benyu bakatapigwa ku mawhombekombe, ndowobakubunganya iko ikweno abazhisa ku bugalo gwandakashalula kuti ibe igo bugalo gwangu.’
- English10
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.
African Kalanga“Ibaba balanda benyu kakale bathu benyu, ibo bamakadzutunula nge simba lenyu gulu.
- English11
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
African KalangaYahwe, iwhani ntembezelo we nlanda wenyu nenge mitembezelo ye balanda benyu ibo banoda kuteta zina lenyu. Bhatshani nlanda wenyu nasi kuti abhudilile, mambo wa bomambo abe ne moyo nnyolo munli an’whilezogwadza.” Ndakabe ndili mbhati we bhepe le nkumbi la mambo.
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.