The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
Old Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Numbers 4English
Mbalo 4African Kalanga
- African Kalanga
Yahwe bakadwa Mushe na Aroni bakati,
- African Kalanga
“Bala bakololo be Balevi be ludzi gwa Kohati nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English3
Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.
African Kalangakudwa mu balume be makole ali makumi matatu (30) kunoti kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu (50), ubale bose bangangina mu nshingo, kushinga nshingo mu nshasha we bushanganilo.
- English4
“This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things.
African KalangaNshingo we bakololo ba Kohati mu nshasha we bushanganilo, wutjengeta zwithu zwakayengemala kwazo.
- English5
When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
African KalangaHa nshasha ufulusiwa, Aroni ne bakololo babe banowongina mukati bakadelusa tjisitilo, bebe befukidza bhokisi le butendeki nditjo.
- English6
Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
African KalangaBalifukidze nge makukuta akasukiwa, bebe bewala jila le mbala we makole, bebe belonga mapango anolisenga.
- English7
“Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
African Kalanga“Bafukidze tafuli ye tjiwunga tjinopiwa Yahwe nge jila le mbala we makole wakabondelela, babige ndilo ne ndigwana dzinopisila motsha ne ndilo whulu ne mapepe e tjipo tje tjing'o, ne tjiwunga tje misi yose tjibigwe payili.
- English8
Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.
African KalangaBazwifukidze zose nge jila shaba, bebe beli fukidza nge makukuta akasukiwa bebe belonga mapango anolisenga.
- English9
“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it.
African Kalanga“Batole jila le mbala we makole wakabondelela bafukidze tjigadziko tje luvone ne mavone atjo ne midzibo yatjo ne ndigwana dzatjo ne zwija zwe mafuta zwakashingisiwa.
- English10
Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.
African KalangaBatjipetele ne zwija zwatjo zose zwili mu bhetelo le gukuta lakasukiwa babe betjibiga mu thala.
- English11
“Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.
African Kalanga“Pezhugwi kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tje golide bawale jila le mbala we makole wakabondelela, bebe betjipetela nge bhetelo le makukuta akasukiwa babebetjibiga mu thala.
- English12
“They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame.
African KalangaBatole zwija zose zwinoshingisiwa mu bugalo gwakayengemala bazwipetele nge jila le mbala we makole wakabondelela, bebe bezwifukidza nge makukuta akasukiwa e phuka dze gungwa, bebe bezwibiga mu thala.
- African Kalanga
Bawole nlota mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo babe bewala tjila le mbala we bushaba gwakabondelela pezhugwi kwatjo.
- English14
Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.
African KalangaBabige zwija zose zwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo mutjili zwinoshingisiwa ipapo, makambana e moto ne mbambo dzino bhaya nyama ne maharawo ne zwikutili, zwija zose zwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo, babe bewala makukuta akasukiwa akanaka pezhugwi kwatjo babe betjibiga mu thala.
- English15
“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting.
African KalangaKowoti Aroni ne bakololo babe bapedza fumika bugalo gwakayengemala ne zwija zwago zose, se be bukotokelo befuluka, be ng'umba ya Kohati bazhe basenge, koga abazofanila kutha zwithu zwakayengemala, ngoti bangafa. Ezwi ndizo zwithu zwe nshasha we bushanganilo zwakafanila sengwa nge bakololo ba Kohati.
- English16
“Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”
African Kalanga“Eleazari nkololo we mpirisiti Aroni unowobe ntjengeti we mafuta e luvone ne motsha unonuwha zwinozipa ne tjipo tje mathunde tje misi ne misi ne mafuta anozhodziwa, ne kulingilila bugalo gwe Ndzimu na zose zwimuguli zwe bugalo gwakayengemala ne zwija zwago.”
- African Kalanga
Yahwe bakadwa Mushe na Aroni bakati,
- African Kalanga
“Musiletje ludzi gwe misha ye Bakohati gukalobesiwa pakati kwe Balevi,
- English19
So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.
African Kalangamuthame kuti batjile basife ha bangasedzela pejo ne zwithu zwakayengemala kwazo. Aroni ne bakololo babe bangine mukati, ngono bape mmwe ne mmwe wabo nshingo ne ntolo wakanlingisana.
- English20
But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”
African KalangaKoga Bakohati basitongongina mukati bakashozhela zwithu zwakayengemala, nenguba kuli kwe tjibakana, abangajalo banowofa.”
- African Kalanga
Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati,
- African Kalanga
“Bala Balevi be ludzi gwa Geshoni nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English23
Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
African Kalangakudwa mu bathu be makole ali makumi matatu kunoti kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu, ubale bose bangangina mu nshingo kushinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo.
- African Kalanga
Oyu ndiwo nshingo we misha ye Bageshoni mu kushinga nenge mitolo yakabalingisana:
- English25
They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
African KalangaBanowosenga zwisitilo zwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne nshasha we bushanganilo ne tjinogufumika tje makukuta akasukiwa pezhugwi kwago ne tjisitilo tje nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo
- English26
the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things.
African Kalangane matyila akalembeleka mu nsha ne tjisitilo tje nkoba we nsha wakakombeledza bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo ne misungo yago ne zwija zose zwinoshingisiwa kumisa zwithu izwezwi, ngono bathame kose kwakabalingisana ne kuti bakushinge.
- English27
All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry.
African KalangaNshingo wose we bakololo be Bageshoni unowobe mu ndaulo ya Aroni ne bakololo babe, kose kwabakafanila senga ne kose kwabakafanila thama, mubudze bose bakalingisana kusenga ntolo wakabalingisana.
- English28
This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.
African KalangaOyu ndiwo nshingo we bakololo be Bageshoni mu nshasha we bushanganilo, ngono nshingo wabo unowobe wakalingiligwa ndi Ithamari nkololo we mpirisiti Aroni.
- African Kalanga
“Ngekwe ludzi gwa Merari, ubabale nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English30
Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
African Kalangakudwa mu bathu be makole ali makumi matatu (30) kunoti kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu (50), ubale mmwe ne mmwe ungangina mu nshingo we kuthama nshingo we nshasha we bushanganilo.
- English31
This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
African KalangaBanowobe bakalingisana ngosenga makwasayili e bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne makoko ago ne phanda dzago ne zwigadziko zwago ne kushinga nshingo wose we nshasha we bushanganilo
- English32
as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.
African Kalangane panda dze nsha kupoteleka ne zwigadziko zwadzo ne mbambo ne misungo ne zwija zose nenge zwithu zose zwinowoshingisiwa, nlume mmwe ne mmwe apiwe tjaakafanila senga.
- English33
This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.”
African KalangaOyu ndiwo nshingo we misha ye bakololo ba Merari, nshingo wabo wose mu nshasha we bushanganilo bali mu luboko gwa Ithamari nkololo we mpirisiti Aroni.”
- English34
Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families.
African KalangaMushe na Aroni ne batungamili be gubungano bakabala bakololo be Bakohati nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English35
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting,
African Kalangakudwa mu mmwe ne mmwe unga ngina mu nshingo we kushinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo una makole ali makumi matatu (30) akazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu (50).
- African Kalanga
Ngono bakabagwa nge misha yabo bakabe zwiwulu zwili zwibili zwina mazana ali kutendeka ana makumi ali mashanu (2 750).
- English37
This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
African KalangaIbaba ndibo be misha ye Bakohati bakabe beshinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo, bakabagwa ndi Mushe na Aroni kuyendidzana ne ndaulo ya Yahwe yabakapa Mushe.
- African Kalanga
Bageshoni bakabagwa nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo.
- English39
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting,
African KalangaBalume bose kudwa muna ana makole ali makumi matatu kuyenda pezhugwi kuna ana makole ali makumi mashanu (50) wakabe akalizana kungina mu nshingo we kushinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo,
- African Kalanga
bakabagwa nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili zwibili zwina mazana ali matathatu ana makumi ali matatu (2 630).
- English41
This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.
African KalangaEyi ndiyo misha yakabagwa ye bakololo ba Geshoni, bose bakabe beshinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo, bakabagwa ndi Mushe na Aroni kuyenda nge ndaulo ya Yahwe.
- African Kalanga
Misha ye bakololo ba Merari yakabagwa nge misha nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English43
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting,
African Kalangakudwa muna bana makole ali makumi matatu (30) bakazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu (50), mmwe ne mmwe wakabe akalizana kungina mu nshingo we kushinga mu nshasha we bushanganilo,
- African Kalanga
bakabagwa nge misha bakabe zwiwulu zwili zwitatu zwina mazana ali mabili (3 200).
- English45
This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
African KalangaIbaba ndibo be misha ye bakololo ba Merari, bakabagwa ndi Mushe na Aroni kuyendidzana ne ndaulo ya Yahwe yabakapa Mushe.
- English46
So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families.
African KalangaBalevi bose bakabagwa ndi Mushe na Aroni ne batungamili be Iziraela nge misha yabo nenge ng'umba dza botate babo,
- English47
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting
African Kalangakudwa muna bakabe bana makole ali makumi ali matatu (30) bakazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi kuna bana makole ali makumi mashanu (50), mmwe ne mmwe wakabe angangina mu nshingo ne kusenga ntolo mu nshasha we bushanganilo,
- African Kalanga
bakabagwa bakabe zwiwulu zwili zhanakadzi zwina mazana ali makumi mashanu ana makumi ali zhanakadzi (8 580).
- English49
At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.
African KalangaKuyendidzana nge ndaulo ya Yahwe yabakapa Mushe, mmwe ne mmwe wakapiwa nshingo uwe we kushinga kene kusenga, tjabakabe bowobe badwiwa. Saikoko Mushe kababala Yahwe sekwa bakandwa.
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.