Ngsäea Khut 7
1 Acunüng, ktaiyü ngvai naw, “Acuna ngthu kcangki aw?” ti lü, Stephen a kthäh.
Then the high priest asked, ‘Is this true?’
2 Acunüng Stephen naw msang lü, “Ka bee jah ka pae aw, ngai ua, mi pupa Abraham, Haran khawa am a ceh ham üng Mesopotemiha Pamhnama hlüngtainak a veia ngdang law lü,
Stephen replied, ‘Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him –
3 “Na khaw ja na im üngka naw cit lü ka ning mhnuh vaia pea cita” a ti.
“Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.”
4 Acunüng, Abraham cun Khalade khaw üngka naw cit lü Haran khawa va veki; acunüng, a pa a thih käna hina atuh nami venak khawa Pamhnam naw a ngkawnsak.
And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living.
5 Acunüng, hia ta a venak vai, a khawpa a takeinak vai pi Pamhnam naw am pe; acunsepi, amät ja a ngsawne cäpa khawh a jah pet vaia am a ca ham üng tün lü khyütamki.
God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.
6 Acunüng, Pamhnam naw, ‘Na mjükphyüie khyanga khawa kum phyakphyü ve khaie, khyanga mpyaa ve u se, jah khuimkha khaie’ tia a pyen.
God’s words were these – “Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
7 Acunüng, Pamhnam naw, ‘Amimi jah mpya na khaia khyang mjüe pi kamät naw ami lei ka jah mtai law pe khai. Acun käna lät law be u lü, hina hnün üng na hjawkhah law khaie’ a ti.
But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,” God said, “and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.”
8 Acunüng, Pamhnam naw vun mawih vaia ngthumkhän pe se; acunüng, Abraham naw Isak ca na lü amhnüp khyetnak üng a vun a mawi pet; acunüng, Isak naw Jakop ca na se, Jakop naw a ca xaleinghngihea vun a jah mawih pet acune cun nglo ngthangkie mi pupae ni.
Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
9 Acunüng, Jakopa cae naw ami na Josep k’eih u lü Egypt pea ami jawihei; acunsepi, Pamhnam naw vepüi lü,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 a khuikhanak naküt üng küikyanki. Josep cun Egypt sangpuxanga maa a pha vai üng Pamhnam naw ani üng themnak ja a hmai vainak pe se, Pharo sangpuxang naw Egypt pe ja a im üng ngvai säiha a mcawn.
and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favour and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
11 Egypt ja Kanan pe avan üng khawjaw law se, khuikhanak aktäa ve lawki; mi pupae cun ami ei vai i am ta u lü vekie.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Acunsepi, Jakop naw Egypt pea cang veki tia ksing lü a cae a jah tüih; acun cun ami cehnak akcüksäiha kyaki.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Acunüng, anghngihnaka ami ceh üng, Josep cun a beea üng jah mtheh se; acunüng, Josepa khuiima mawng cun Pharo naw a jah ksing law.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Acunüng, Josep naw a pa Jakop ja a benae naküt a jah khüsak; ami van khyühkip ja hma lawki he.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Jakop cun Egypt pea ju citki; acunüng, ani ja a tucae cun thikie.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 Ami yawke cun Sikem khawa jah cepüi u lü Abraham naw Sikem khawa Hamoa sanga veia ngui am a khyäiha ng'uhnak üng ami ja k’ut.
and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 “Acunüng, Pamhnam naw Abrahama veia khyütam akpha law hlü üng, Jakopa mjükphyüie cun Egypt pea nung mja lawki he.
As the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 Josep am ksingkia sangpuxang akce naw Egypt cun up lawki.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 Ani naw mi pupae jah mkhuimkha lü hnasen he pi thi khaia im üngkhyüh a jah xawt tawnsak.
This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
20 Acunüng Pamhnama hmaia aktäa ngtokia, Mosi hmi law se, a pa ima khya kthum ami mcah;
It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house;
21 acun käna ami tawnnaka, Pharoa canu naw lo lü amäta ca vaia a mcahei.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 Acunüng Mosi cun Egypt pea ami ksingkhyapnak naküt jah mthei u se, bilawnak ja pyensaknak thei üng be lawki.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 Kum kphyükip a cum üng, a püi Isarele ihawkba vekie ti cun ja va bükteng khaia ngtängki.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 Acunüng Isarel khyang mat Egypt khyang naw khuimkha se hmu lü, yungki naw Egypt khyang cun a hnim.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 (Pamhnam naw ani am a khyange jah yung khai tia, a khyange naw ksing khaiea ngai sepi, am ksing u.)
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 Angawi law be tü üng amimät üngka xawi ngtunngpyei nise jah hmu law lü, ‘Ka püi xawi aw, bengna xawia nani kyaki, ise nani ngtunngpyeiki ni?’ ti lü ja mkhya khaia bü se,
The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. “Men,” he said, “you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?”
27 a püi ngtunpüiki naw Mosi buk lü, ‘Kani khana suki ja ngthumkhyah mkhawnga u naw aning mcawn ni?
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Müta Egypt khyang na hnima kba na na hnim khaia na büki aw?’ a kthäh.
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?”
29 Acun a ngjaka phäha Mosi Midian pea cen lü, acuia cakpa nghngih a canak.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 Kum kphyükip a nghjawk käna, Sinai mcung pei khawkhyawng khawa meia däiki kpyap üngka naw, khankhawngsä mat a veia ngdang lawki.
Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Mosi naw acun a hmu üng, aktäa cäi lü bükteng khaia a va k’et üng, Bawipa kthai naw,
When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say –
32 ‘Kei cun na pupaea Pamhnam ni, Abrahama Pamhnam, Isaka Pamhnam, Jakopa Pamhnam ni’ ti se, acunüng, Mosi naw kyüh lü am a bükteng dat.
“I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 Acunüng, Bawipa naw, ‘Na khawdawk cän suta; isetiakyaküng na ngdüinak cän hnün ngcimcaiha mdek ni.
Then the Lord said to him – “Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Egypt pea ka khyang vekiea ami khuikhanak aktäa hmu veng, ami ngko pi ngja veng, ami jah küikyan khaia ka kyum lawki ni. Tuhkbäih cita, Egypt pea ka ning tüih khai’ a ti.
I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.”
35 Acuna Mosi, ‘Kani khana suki ja ngthumkhyah mkhawnga u naw aning mcawn ni?’ tia Isarele naw ami mah cun, kpyapa k'uma a veia ngdang lawkia khankhawngsä naw kpüi se, Pamhnam naw ani kung cun ngvai ja küikyan khaia a tüiha kyaki.
This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush.
36 Ani naw Egypt pe, Mpanglai Sen ja khawkhyawng khawa kum kphyükip üng, cäicatnak vaie ja müncamkse ja pawh lü a ja ngkhah lawpüi.
He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.
37 Isarel khyange üng ‘Pamhnam naw kei ana mcawna mäiha, nami benae üngka sahma mat ning ja mcawn pe khai’ ti lü jah mthehki cun acuna Mosia kyaki.
This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – “God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.”
38 Ani cun, khawkhyawng khawa ngkhämkiea veia pi kyase, Sinai mcunga ngthuheipüikia khankhawngsäa veia pi kyase, ja mjükphyüi nakiea veia pi kyase ve lü mimi a jah pet vaia xüngseiki Pamhnama ngthu yahkia kyaki.
He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.
39 Ania ngthu cun mi pupae naw käh ngai u lü, ami mlung üng Egypt pea nghlat be vai ngjahlükie.
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 Acunakyase Arona veia, ‘Ja ngkhahpüi khaia mhnam he jah pyan peta; Egypt pe üngka naw jah lawpüikia Mosi ihawkba veki ni am ksing ve üng’ ami ti.
while they said to Aaron – “Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
41 Acunüng, seca juktuh pyang u lü, acun cun xüngsei hnimki he naw hjawkhah u lü, amimäta kuta pyang cun ngkengtai u lü hlimtuikie.
That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honour of their own handiwork!
42 Acunakyase Pamhnam naw akcea ja jah nghlat ta lü, khankhawa aisie jah hjawkhah khaiea a jah pawh; acun cun sahmaea yuknak caup üng: ‘Isarel khyange aw, khawkhyawng khawa kum kphyükip üng axüngksei jah hnim u lü ngkengnak nami bilawh hin kei nami na hjawkhahnak am ni.
So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – “Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert?
43 Sama k'uma veki Moluk mhnam ceh hü lü aisi mhnam Rephan pi nami hjawkhah vaia a lup nami pyangki, acunakyase, Babalung pea nami mpya khaia ka ning jah tüih khai’ tia veki.
You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshipped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.”
44 Mi pupae naw khawkhyawng khawa Mhnama venak vai sam takie. Acun cun Mhnama phäh nami pyan vai cun Mosi üng mtheh kba sam nami takie.
Our ancestors had the tent where they worshipped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen.
45 Acun käna, mi pupaea naw sam cun lo u lü Josuh mah maha cit u lü cehpüikie, acun cun Pamhnam naw ni maa a jah ksät khyangmjüea khawa takie. Acun hin Davita a ve law cäpa acua veki.
This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David.
46 Acuna Davit cun Pamhnama mpyeneinak yah lü, Jakopa Pamhnama venak vai pyang khaia kthähki.
David found favour with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 Acunsepi, Solamon naw ni im cun a sak.
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 Acunsepi, hlüngtai säihkia Mhnam cun khyanga kut am saka im üng am ve khawi; sahma naw pyen lü:
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
49 Bawipa naw, ‘Khankhaw cun ka Bawingawhnaka kyaki, khawmdek cun ka khawpha ka mtaihnaka kyaki, im ia mäih nami na sak hlü peki ni? Ka venaka hnün cun ia mäih ni?
“The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest?
50 Kamäta kut am anaküt ka ja mhnünkia am kya aw?’ ti ve, ti lü a pyen ni.
Was it not my hand that made all these things?”
51 Stephen naw msu lü, “Nami mlung ngcang ve, Pamhnama ngthu am nami ngjaki, anglät se Ngmüimkhya Ngcim nami mahki; nami pupaea ve ja nami ve täng ve.
Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
52 Nami pupae naw sahmae am ami khuimkha khawi veki aw? Law khaia Ngsungpyunkia Mpyaa mawng sang lawki he Pamhnama ngsä he jah hnimki he. Atuh pi ani cun phyehei lü nami hnimki.
Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers –
53 Mhnama thum, khankhawngsä hea naw ami ning jah pet cän yah u lü am nami läki” a ti.
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.’
54 Acunüng, acuna ngthu cun kawngci khyange naw ami ngjak ja ami mlungso law se, Stephena khana mnicui kyetkie.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Acunsepi, Stephen cun Ngmüimkhya Ngcim am bekia kya lü, khankhawa hang mangki naw, Pamhnama hlüngtainak ja Pamhnama khet lama Jesuh ngdüi se a hmu.
He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
56 Acunüng, Stephen naw, “Teng u.” “Khankhaw nghmawng lü Pamhnama khet lama Khyanga Cakpa ngdüiki pi hmu veng” a ti.
‘Look,’ he exclaimed, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!’
57 Amimi cun angsanga ngpyang u lü, ami nghnga jah kbümeikie naw, atänga kyaksih u lü,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 mlüh k'um üngka naw akpunga kaih u lü, lung am ami khawng. Saksi vai ami suisake cun Sawluh ngming naki cawngpyang mata khaw kunga ami jah tak.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Acunüng, lung am aktäa ami khawng k'um üng, Stephen naw, “Bawipa Jesuh aw! ka Ngmüimkhya labea” ti lü ktaiyüki.
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, ‘Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!’
60 Acunüng, a mkhuk ngdäng lü, angsanga ngpyang lü, “Bawipa aw, hina ami mkhyekatnak cän käh ja thung be kawpi” a ti. Acuna ngthu a pyen päng ja thiki.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, ‘Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;’ and with these words he fell asleep.
