Machitidwe a Atumwi 7
1 Kenaka mkulu wa ansembe anafunsa Stefano kuti, “Kodi zimene akukunenerazi ndi zoona?”
Then the High Priest asked him, "Are these statements true?"
2 Stefano anayankha kuti, “Abale ndi makolo, tamverani! Mulungu waulemerero anaoneka kwa kholo lathu Abrahamu pamene ankakhala ku Mesopotamiya, asanakakhale ku Harani.
The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,
3 Mulungu anati, ‘Tuluka mʼdziko lako, siya abale ako, ndipo pita ku dziko limene ndidzakusonyeza.’
and said to him, "'Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.'
4 “Ndipo iye anatulukadi mʼdziko la Akaldeya ndi kukakhala ku Harani. Atamwalira abambo ake, Mulungu anamuchotsa kumeneko ndi kumubweretsa mʼdziko lino limene inu mukukhalamo tsopano.
"Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.
5 Mulungu sanamupatse cholowa kuno, ngakhale kadera kakangʼono kadziko. Koma Mulungu anamulonjeza kuti adzapereka dziko lino kwa iye ndi kwa zidzukulu zake, ngakhale kuti pa nthawi imeneyi analibe mwana.
But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.
6 Mulungu anayankhula motere kwa iye: ‘Zidzukulu zako zidzakhala alendo mʼdziko lachilendo, ndipo zidzakhala akapolo ndi kuzunzidwa zaka 400.’
And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.
7 Mulungu anati, ‘Ine ndidzalanga dziko limene zidzukulu zako zidzagwireko ukapolo, ndipo pambuyo pake akadzatuluka mʼdzikolo adzandipembedza Ine pamalo pano.’
"'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them, I will judge,' said God; 'and afterwards they shall come out, and they shall worship Me in this place.'
8 Kenaka Mulungu anachita pangano la mdulidwe ndi Abrahamu. Ndipo Abrahamu, anabereka Isake, namudula ali ndi masiku asanu ndi atatu. Ndipo Isake anabereka Yakobo, Yakobo anabereka makolo khumi ndi awiri aja.
"Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.
9 “Makolo athu anachita nsanje ndi Yosefe ndipo anamugulitsa kuti akakhale kapolo ku Igupto. Koma Mulungu anali naye
"The Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him
10 ndipo anamupulumutsa iye kumasautso ake onse. Mulungu anamupatsa Yosefe nzeru ndi chisomo pamaso pa Farao mfumu ya ku Igupto, kotero mfumuyo inamuyika iye kukhala nduna yayikulu ya dziko la Igupto ndiponso nyumba yake yonse yaufumu.
and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household.
11 “Kenaka munalowa njala mʼdziko la Kanaani, kotero kuti anthu anavutika kwambiri, ndipo makolo athu sanathe kupeza chakudya.
But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.
12 Pamene Yakobo anamva kuti ku Igupto kunali tirigu, iye anatuma makolo athu ulendo woyamba.
When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.
13 Pa ulendo wawo wachiwiri, Yosefe anadziwulula kwa abale akewo ndipo Farao anadziwa za banja la Yosefe.
On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.
14 Izi zinachitika, Yosefe anayitanitsa abambo ake Yakobo ndi banja lonse, onse pamodzi analipo 75.
Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his family, numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,
15 Motero Yakobo anapita ku Igupto, kumene iye ndiponso makolo athu anamwalira.
and Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and so did our forefathers,
16 Mitembo yawo anayinyamula ndi kupita nayo ku Sekemu kumene inayikidwa mʼmanda amene Abrahamu anagula kochokera kwa ana a Hamori ku Sekemuko.
and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.
17 “Nthawi itayandikira yakuti Mulungu achite zimene analonjeza kwa Abrahamu, mtundu wathu unakula ndi kuchuluka kwambiri mu Igupto.
"But as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people became many times more numerous in Egypt,
18 Pambuyo pake mfumu yatsopano imene sinkamudziwa Yosefe, inayamba kulamulira dziko la Igupto.
until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.
19 Mfumuyo inachita mwachinyengo ndi mtundu wathu ndi kuwazunza kuti ataye ana awo akhanda kuti afe.
He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.
20 “Pa nthawi imeneyo Mose anabadwa, ndipo anali wokongola kwambiri. Iye analeredwa mʼnyumba ya abambo ake kwa miyezi itatu.
At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.
21 Atakamutaya, mwana wamkazi wa Farao anamutola nakamulera ngati mwana wake.
At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, and brought him up as her own son.
22 Mose anaphunzira nzeru zonse za Aigupto, ndipo anali wamphamvu mʼmawu ndi ntchito zake.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.
23 “Mose ali ndi zaka makumi anayi, anaganizira zokayendera abale ake Aisraeli.
"And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.
24 Iye ataona mmodzi wa iwo akuzunzidwa ndi Mwigupto, anatchinjiriza Mwisraeliyo, namupha Mwiguptoyo.
Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mose anaganiza kuti abale ake adzazindikira kuti Mulungu anamuyika kuti awapulumutse koma iwo sanazindikire.
He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.
26 Mmawa mwake Mose anaona Aisraeli awiri akukangana. Iye anayesa kuwayanjanitsa ponena kuti, ‘Amuna inu, ndinu abale; chifukwa chiyani mukufuna kupwetekana?’
The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'
27 “Koma munthu amene amavutitsa mnzakeyo anakankha Mose ndipo anati, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza.
"But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?
28 Kodi ukufuna kundipha monga momwe unaphera Mwigupto uja dzulo?’
Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
29 Mose atamva mawu awa anathawira ku Midiyani, kumene anakhala mlendo ndipo anabereka ana amuna awiri.
"Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the country and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
30 “Ndipo patapita zaka makumi anayi mngelo anaonekera kwa Mose mʼmalawi amoto pa chitsamba mʼchipululu pafupi ndi Phiri la Sinai.
"But at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the Desert of Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Iye ataona zimenezi, anadabwa. Akupita kuti akaonetsetse pafupi, Mose anamva mawu a Ambuye:
When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,
32 ‘Ine ndine Mulungu wa makolo ako, Mulungu wa Abrahamu, Isake ndi Yakobo.’ Mose ananjenjemera chifukwa cha mantha ndipo sanalimbe mtima kuyangʼananso.
"'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.
33 “Ndipo Ambuye anati kwa Mose, ‘Vula nsapato zako, pakuti malo amene wayimapo ndi opatulika.
"'Take off your shoes,' said the Lord, 'for the spot on which you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ine ndaona ndithu mazunzo a anthu anga amene ali ku Igupto. Ndamva kulira kwawo choncho ndabwera kuti ndiwapulumutse. Tsopano tiye ndikutume ku Igupto.’
I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to Egypt.'
35 “Uyu ndi Mose yemwe uja amene Aisraeli anamukana ndi kunena kuti, ‘Ndani anakuyika kuti ukhale wotilamulira ndi wotiweruza?’ Iyeyo anatumidwa ndi Mulungu mwini kuti akakhale wowalamulira ndiponso mpulumutsi, mothandizidwa ndi mngelo amene anamuonekera pa chitsamba.
"The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, 'Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' --that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 Iye anawatulutsa mu Igupto ndipo anachita zodabwitsa ndi zizindikiro zozizwitsa mu Igupto, pa Nyanja Yofiira, ndiponso mʼchipululu kwa zaka makumi anayi.
This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.
37 “Uyu ndi Mose uja amene anati kwa Aisraeli, ‘Mulungu adzawutsa pakati pa abale anu mneneri ngati ine.’
This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, "'God will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren, just as He raised me up.'
38 Iyeyu anali mʼgulu la Aisraeli mʼchipululu pamodzi ndi mngelo amene anamuyankhula pa phiri la Sinai ndiponso makolo athu; ndipo Mose analandira mawu amoyo kuti atipatse ife.
'This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.
39 “Koma makolo athu anakana kumumvera iye. Iwo anamukana iye ndipo mʼmitima mwawo anatembenukira ku Igupto.
"Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 Iwo anati kwa Aaroni, ‘Bwera utipangire milungu imene idzititsogolera. Kunena za Mose amene anatitsogolera kutuluka mʼdziko la Igupto, sitikudziwa chimene chamuchitikira.
They said to Aaron, "'Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'
41 Iyi ndi nthawi imene anapanga fano la mwana wangʼombe. Anapereka nsembe kwa fanoli nachita chikondwerero kulemekeza ntchito ya manja awo.
"Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made.
42 Koma Mulungu anawafulatira, nawapereka kuti apembedze zolengedwa zakumwamba. Zimenezi zikugwirizana ndi zimene zinalembedwa mʼbuku la aneneri kuti, “‘Kodi pa zaka makumi anayi zimene munakhala mʼchipululu muja munkandibweretsera nsembe ndi zopereka, inu nyumba ya Israeli?’
So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel?
43 Ayi, inu mwanyamula tenti ya Moloki ndi nyenyezi ya mulungu wanu Refani, mafano amene munapanga kuti muziwapembedza. Chifukwa chake, Ine ndidzakutumizani kutali, kupitirira dziko la Babuloni.
Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan--the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'
44 “Makolo athu anali ndi tenti ya msonkhano pakati pawo mʼchipululu. Anayipanga monga momwe Mulungu anawuzira Mose, molingana ndi chithunzi chimene Mose anachiona.
"Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen.
45 Makolo athu, atayilandira Tentiyo, anabwera nayo motsogozedwa ndi Yoswa pamene analanda dziko la mitundu imene Mulungu anayipirikitsa pamaso pawo. Tentiyo inakhala mʼdzikomo mpaka nthawi ya Davide,
That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.
46 amene anapeza chisomo pamaso pa Mulungu ndipo anapempha kuti amʼmangire nyumba Mulungu wa Yakobo.
David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
47 Koma anali Solomoni amene anamanga nyumbayo.
But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
48 “Komatu, Wammwambamwambayo sakhala mʼnyumba zomangidwa ndi anthu. Monga mneneri akunena kuti,
Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,
49 “‘Kumwamba ndi mpando wanga waufumu, ndipo dziko lapansi ndi chopondapo mapazi anga. Kodi mudzandimangira nyumba yotani? Akutero Ambuye. Kapena malo opumuliramo Ine ali kuti?
"'The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?
50 Kodi si dzanja langa linapanga zonsezi?’
Did not My hand form this universe.'
51 “Anthu wokanika inu, osachita mdulidwe wa mu mtima ndi a makutu ogontha! Inu ofanana ndi makolo anu. Nthawi zonse mumakana kumvera Mzimu Woyera:
"O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were.
52 Kodi analipo mneneri amene makolo anu sanamuzunze? Iwo anapha ngakhale amene ananeneratu za kubwera kwa Wolungamayo. Ndipo tsopano inu munamupereka ndi kumupha Iye.
Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--
53 Inu amene munalandira Malamulo amene anaperekedwa ndi angelo ndipo simunawamvere.”
you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have not obeyed it."
54 Atamva zimenezi, iwo anakwiya kwambiri ndipo anamukukutira mano.
As they listened to these words, they became infuriated and gnashed their teeth at him.
55 Koma Stefano, wodzaza ndi Mzimu Woyera, anayangʼana kumwamba ndipo anaona ulemerero wa Mulungu ndiponso Yesu atayimirira ku dzanja lamanja la Mulungu.
But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
56 Stefano anati, “Taonani, ndikuona kumwamba kotsekuka ndiponso Mwana wa Munthu atayimirira ku dzanja la manja la Mulungu.”
"I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
57 Koma iwo anatseka mʼmakutu mwawo, ndipo anafuwula kolimba, onse anathamangira kwa iye,
Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, rushed upon Stephen in a body,
58 anamukokera kunja kwa mzinda ndipo anayamba kumugenda miyala. Mboni zinasungitsa zovala zawo kwa mnyamata otchedwa Saulo.
dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.
59 Akumugenda miyala, Stefano anapemphera kuti, “Ambuye Yesu, landirani mzimu wanga.”
So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60 Ndipo anagwada pansi nafuwula mwamphamvu kuti, “Ambuye musawawerengere tchimoli.” Atanena mawu amenewa anamwalira.
Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
