The English-Kalanga Bilingual Language Learning Bible
New Testament
Read each verse in English beside its African Kalanga equivalent.
Luke 7English
Luka 7African Kalanga
- African Kalanga
Jesu kati apedza leba ikoku kose mu zebe dze banhu, kangina mu nzi we Kapenaume.
- African Kalanga
Ikoko kwakabe kuna nlanda we nlauli we babhayani be Baroma wakabe ediwa kwazo ndi tetshi uwe, egwala ali pedlo nofa.
- English3
The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
African KalangaNlauli we babhayani kawha nekwa Jesu, ndizo katuma bakulu be Bajuta kuunli, enkumbila kuti ahhe awopodza nlanda uwe.
- English4
When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,
African KalangaBakati behha kuna Jesu, bakankumbila kwazo kuti abhatshe nlume iwoyo beti, “Kofanila kuti uthamile iwoyu nlume sa ikoku,
- African Kalanga
ngobe unoda tjaba tjedu, kakale wakati bakila ng'umba ye mitembezelo.”
- English6
So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
African KalangaNdizo Jesu kayenda nabo. Wakati abe pedlo ne ng'umba ye nlauli we babhayani nlauli katuma bazwalani babe kuunli eti, “He, musizwidziyidze, ngobe andizolizanila kuti mungangina mu ng'umba yangu.
- English7
That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
African KalangaNdizo, ndagala ndazwibona kuti andizolizana hha kumuli. Koga lebani dama, ngono nlanda wangu unowopola.
- English8
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
African KalangaNgobe namibo ndi nhu upasi kwe nlayo, ndina babhayani pasi kwangu. Ndoti kuna iwoyu, ‘Yenda,’ kayenda, ati kuna woya, ‘Ihha,’ kahha. Ndoti ku nlanda wangu, ‘Hinga etji,’ katjihinga.”
- English9
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”
African KalangaKukati Jesu ewha ikoku, kantjenamila, katendebuka kalinga mbunga we banhu bakabe bakantobela, kati kubali, “Ndolebesa ndoti, andinhu atongo bona galamoyo kukulu kungapa ne mu Iziraela ntja.”
- African Kalanga
Ipapo banhu bakabe batumwa bakabgwilila ku ng'umba, ngono bakawana nlanda apola.
- English11
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
African KalangaTjinyolotjo kubva ipapo, Jesu kayenda ku nzi unoyi Naini, badiyiwa babe ne mbunga nkulu we banhu bakayenda naye.
- English12
As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out–the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
African KalangaWakati esedzelela nkoba we nzi iwoyo, kukabe kwakasengegwa kuhhe nhu wakafa, wakabe ali iye ega mwana pana mmeyabe, ngono ibo bali tjilikadzi. Mbunga nkulu we banhu unobva mu nzi iwoyo, wakabe una tjilikadzi iyeyo.
- African Kalanga
He kati embona kan’whila zogwadza kati, “Usilile.”
- English14
Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
African KalangaIpapo kasedzela kabhata ntengate, ngono ibabo bakabe bakasenga bakama. Iye kati, “N’hhuhha, ndoti kukuli, muka!”
- African Kalanga
Nfi kamuka, katangisa lebeleka, ngono Jesu kambgwiliza kuna mmeyabe.
- English16
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”
African KalangaBose bakatjenama kukulu kwazo, bakakudza Ndzimu beti, “Nlebesambeli nkulu wahha pakati kwedu! Ndzimu wahha kuwobhatsha banhu bawo.”
- African Kalanga
Nhawu idzedzi nekwa Jesu dzikaandama mu ntunhu we Judiya wose ne mitunhu ipedlo.
- African Kalanga
Badiyiwa ba Johani bakabudza Johani nekwe zwinhu zose zwakabe zwiyitiwa ndi Jesu.
- English19
he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
African KalangaKadana babili babo, kabatuma kuna He kumbhuzwa whoku, “Ndimwi mabe makalindigwa kuhha, kene tilindile mmwe?”
- English20
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
African KalangaKukati balume ibabo behha kuna Jesu bakati, “Johani we Mbvubiki watituma kumuli kumubhuzwa kuti ‘Apa ndimwi mabe makalingiligwa, kene tilingilile mmwe?’”
- English21
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
African KalangaNe lubaka igogo Jesu kapodza banji bakabe begwala ne bakabe bakasungwa ne meya mibi, kakale kapofunula banjinji bakabe bali mapofu.
- English22
So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
African KalangaNdizo kahandula batumwa kati, “Bgwililani, mubudze Johani tjamabona ne tjamawha. Mapofu anopofunugwa, zwilema zoyenda, banhu banogwala mapele banopodziwa ne mabhubulazebe anowha ne bafi banomusiwa ne ndebo mbuya inosumikigwa ku bahayi.
- African Kalanga
Unamhahhambuya usingakunhike ne kwangu.”
- English24
After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
African KalangaBatumwa ba Johani bakati bayenda, Jesu katangisa lebeleka ne mbunga we banhu nekwa Johani, ebhuzwa eti, “Ini tjamakayendila kunobona ku tjilambanyika? Apa makabe manobona luhanga gunozunguziwa ne mhepo kene?
- English25
If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.
African KalangaAkusakajalo, ini tjamakabe munobona ngono? Makabe manobona nhu wakaambala zwiambalo zwakanaka kene? Bonani, ibabo banoambala zwiambalo zwe ntengo upehhugwi betjila butjilo gwe pepkhwe ba mu ng'umba dza bohe.
- African Kalanga
Ngono ini tjamakayendila kunobona? Makayendila kunobona nlebesambeli kene? Ee, ndomubudza kakale nditi, makabona nkulu pa nlebesambeli.
- English27
This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
African KalangaOyu ndiye wakakwagwa ne kukwe kuyi, ‘Ndowotuma ntumwa wangu mbeli kuko, iye unowolulwamisa zila iyo mbeli kuko.’
- English28
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
African KalangaNdomubva nditi, muna ibabo bakazwagwa ne nkadzi, akuna iye nkulu pana Johani; koga iye ntukunu tjose mu buhe gwe Ndzimu nkulu panli.”
- English29
(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.
African KalangaBanhu bose ne bakhethisi nekwabo, bakati bewha matama a Jesu bakabvuma kuti zila ye Ndzimu yakalulwama, ngobe bakabe babvubikiwa ne bvubiko ya Johani.
- English30
But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
African KalangaKoga Bafarisi ne badiyi be nlayo bakazwilambigwa ndongoloso ye Ndzimu, se bakabe balamba bvubikwa ndiye.
- African Kalanga
Jesu kayendilambeli elebeleka eti ini “Ngono tjandingafanidzanya banhu ibaba bangwenu? Banongani wali?
- English32
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’
African KalangaBanonga bana bali gele mu nhanga, bedanana, belebesana, beti, ‘Tamulidzila nyele, koga mukasizane, tikamumbila lumbo gwe tjililo koga mukasilile.’
- English33
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
African KalangaNgobe Johani we Mbvubiki wakahha asingadle tjiwunga kene kuli ng'wa nkumbi we n’hhambi, ngono imwi mukati, ‘Una meya mbi.’
- English34
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘
African KalangaNkololo we Nhu kahha edla kakale eng'wa, ngono moti, ‘Yeli govu ne tjidakwa, nzwalani we bakhethisi ne batjinyi.’
- African Kalanga
Koga butjenjebvu golakidzika kuti gwakalulwama ne bana bago.”
- English36
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
African KalangaMmwe we Bafarisi kadanila Jesu zodliwa, ndizo kayenda ku ng'umba ye Mfarisi iwoyo kagala pasi kadla.
- English37
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
African KalangaNkadzi wakabe ali ntjinyi mu nzi iwoyo kati ewha kuyi Jesu unodla mu ng'umba ye Mfarisi, kahhisa tjilongo tjakathamiwa ne bgwe linoyi alabhasita, tjina mafuta anonuwha zwinozipa.
- English38
and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
African KalangaNgono kati ali mile hule kukwe pa makumbo awe elila, katangisa nyolodza makumbo a Jesu ne mihodzi iye. Ipapo kaabuhika ne mavudzi awe kaaputa kadila mafuta iyawo.
- English39
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.”
African KalangaMfarisi wakadanila Jesu zodliwa wakati ebona ikoku kati tje mu moyo, “Ha nlume iwoyu abe ali nlebesambeli, unobe eziba kuti ndiani iwoyu unombhata kakale kuti nkadzi iwoyu umbimbi.”
- African Kalanga
Jesu kambva kati, “Simoni, kuna tjandohaka kubudza.” Simoni kadabila kati, “Ini n'diyi.”
- English41
“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
African KalangaJesu kati, “Mmwe nkolotisi we mari wakabe ekolotiwa ne balume babili. Mmwe wabo ana nlandu naye we madinari emazana mahanu mmwe ana nlandu naye we madinari emakumi mahanu.
- English42
Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
African KalangaKwakabe kusina wabo una mari kunlipa, ndizo kabuhika milandu yabo. Ngwenu, ndiupi wabo unowon'da kwazo?”
- English43
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
African KalangaSimoni kahandula eti, “Ndobona kuti unowodiwa kwazo ne wakabuhikigwa nlandu nkulu.” Jesu kati, “Wabona zubuyanana.”
- English44
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
African KalangaIpapo kahanduka kalingisana na iwoyo nkadzi, ngono kati kuna Simoni, “Apa unobona nkandzi iwoyu, kene? Ndahha mu ng'umba iyo, auzondipa vula kuti ndingule makumbo, koga iye wangudza makumbo angu ne mihodzi iye, kaabuhika ne mavudzi awe.
- English45
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
African KalangaAuzotongoti, undibuyisa ukandiputa koga iwoyu nkadzi, kubva mu lubaka gwandangina, aazotongo letja puta makumbo angu.
- African Kalanga
Auzodila n’holo wangu mafuta, koga iye wadila mafuta anonuwha zwinozipa mu makumbo angu.
- English47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
African KalangaNdizo, ndokubudza nditi, zwibi zwizwe zose zwazwiibhatigwa, ndizo walakidza ludo bukulu. Koga iye wazwiibhatigwa kutukununu, una ludo butukununu.”
- African Kalanga
Ipapo Jesu kati ku nkadzi iwoyo “Zwibi zwizo zwazwiibhatigwa.”
- African Kalanga
Ndizo bamwe bakabe bedla naye bakatangisa lebeleka tjekwabo beti, “Ndiani iwoyu unozwiibhatigwa zwibi?”
- African Kalanga
Jesu kati ku nkadzi iwoyo, “Galamoyo kuko kwakutjidza, yenda ne kunyalala!”
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.