< Masengo 7 >
1 Nipele, Jwambopesi Jwankulu ŵambusisye che Stefano, “Ana yelei ni iyoyo?”
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 Che Stefano nombe ŵaajanjile, “Achalongo achinjangu ni achatati, mumbilikanile! Akunnungu Ŵakulu ŵaakopochele atati ŵetu che Iblahimu paŵaliji ku Mesopotamia akanaŵe kwaula kukutama ku Halani.
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3 Akunnungu ŵansalile che Iblahimu, ‘Ntyoche mchilambo chenu, mwaleche ŵandu ŵa lukosyo lwenu, njaule kuchilambo chatinganlanjile cho.’
and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 Nipele, che Iblahimu ŵasamile chilambo cha Ŵakalidayo, ŵajawile kukutama ku Halani. Paŵawile atatigwe, Akunnungu ŵansamisye sooni ku Halani ni kwika kukutama ku chilambo chino munkutamanga ŵanyamwe sambano jino.
So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.
5 Akunnungu nganiŵapa che Iblahimu namose chipande cha chilambo chi kuti chiŵe chao, nambo ŵannanjile kwapa chilambo chi chiŵe chakwe nsyene ni cha uŵelesi wakwe, namuno katema ko ŵaliji akanaŵe kola mwanache.
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.
6 Akunnungu ŵansalile yeleyi, ‘Uŵelesi wenu chiutame mu chilambo cha chilendo, ni kweleko chachatenda achikapolo ni kwasausya yaka mia nne.
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
7 Nambo Akunnungu akuti, uneji chinjalamula ŵandu ŵa chilambo uchachatenda achikapolo. Nipele chinjakoposya mchilambo cho ni kwaikanawo apano kuti ambopele.’
‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
8 Ni Akunnungu ŵatesile malangano ni che Iblahimu ga kuumbala gaŵe chimanyisyo cha kugakunda malangano gao. Nipele che Iblahimu ŵambumbesye che Isaka mwanagwe pa lyuŵa lya ncheche ni ncheche pakumala kupagwa. Ni che Isaka nombe ŵambumbesye che Yakobo mwanagwe, ni che Yakobo nombe ŵaatesile iyoyo peyo achambuje ŵetu likumi ni ŵaŵili ŵala.
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9 “Aŵala achambuje ŵetu ŵankolele wiu che Yusufu, ni ŵansyumisye aŵe kapolo ku chilambo cha Misili. Nambo Akunnungu ŵaliji pamo nawo,
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
10 ni kunkulupusya mmasausyo gakwe gose. Akunnungu ŵampele che Yusufu upile ni lunda paujo pa Falao, mwenye jwa ku Misili, ni mwenye Falao ŵammisile che Yusufu kuŵa jwankulu jwa chilambo ni jwa wose ŵaali mu nyuumba jao ja chimwenye.
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
11 Nipele kwatyochele sala jajikulungwa pa chilambo cha ku Misili ni ku Kanaani, ni ŵandu ŵalasile kwannope ligongo lya sala. Achambuje ŵetu nganakombola kuchipata chakulya chachilichose.
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12 Nipele, che Yakobo paŵapilikene kuti kwana yakulya ku Misili ko, ŵaalajisye achiŵanagwe, yaani achatati ŵetu, ajaulangane kaandanda ku Misili ko.
When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 Ni pa ulendo wao waŵili, che Yusufu ŵalikolasile kwa achapwakwe, ni mwenye jwa ku Misili ŵalumanyilile lukosyo lu che Yusufu.
On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Ni che Yusufu ŵaalajisye ŵandu kukwaŵilanga che Yakobo atatigwe ni achalongo achinjakwe wose, ŵandu sabini na mbili aichanje ku Misili.
Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
15 Che Yakobo ŵajawile ku Misili, kweleko ni kuŵawilile pamo ni achambuje ŵetu.
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 Ni malilo gao gajigalikwe mpaka ku Shekemu, ni kusikwa mwilembe liŵasumile che Iblahimu kutyochela ku lukosyo lwa Hamoli kwa mbiya simpepe.”
Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.
17 “Nambo pikaiche katema ka chilanga chiŵalumbile Akunnungu ku che Iblahimu, ŵandu ŵala ŵatupile ni konjecheka kwa nnope ku Misili kula.
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
18 Nipele ŵajimwiche mwenye jwine ku Misili jwanganammanyilila che Yusufu.
Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 Mwenye jo ŵaatesile yangalumbana ni kwaonela achambuje ŵetu kwa kwakanganichisya akaajase achiŵana ŵao achanandi kuti nganasaka akole umi.
He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
20 Katema ko che Musa ŵapagwile, nombejo ŵaliji jwambone paujo pa Akunnungu. Ŵalelitwe pa musi pa atatigwe kwa miesi jitatu,
At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.
21 ni paŵalepele kungosa mwakupunda mu nyuumba ŵankopwesye paasa, mwali jwa mwenye jwa ku Misili ŵanjigele ni kunlela mpela mwanagwe nsyene.
When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22 Che Musa ŵajigenywe indu ya lunda lwa Ŵamisili nombejo ŵaliji jwakulimbangana kwa maloŵe ni masengo.
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
23 “Paŵaliji ni yaka alobaini, ntima wakwe wasachile kwajimajimila achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli kukulola indu iŵapanganyichiswaga.
When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 Kweleko ŵambweni Mmisili jumo achimpanganyichisyaga yangalumbana jumo jwa achalongo achinjakwe, ŵapokasisye, ni che Musa kwakwauchisya ŵambuleje Mmisili jula.
And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.
25 Ŵaganisisye kuti achalongo achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli akaimanyilile kuti Akunnungu akuntuma jwelejo kwakulupusya, nambo nganaimanyilila.
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26 Malaŵi jakwe, ŵaweni Ŵaisilaeli ŵaŵili ali nkuputana achinsyene pe, ni ŵalinjile kwajilanya achitiji; ‘Ŵanyamwe ndi ŵa lukosyo lumo, ligongo chi nkusaka kuulasyana achinsyene pe?’
The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’
27 Nambo jwejula juŵamputaga njakwe jula ŵantutile pambali che Musa ni kunsalila, ‘Ana ŵaani ŵambisile mmwejo kuŵa chilongola ni jwakulamula pa uweji?
But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
28 Ana nkusaka kumulaga mpela imwatite pakummulaga Mmisili jula liiso?’
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Che Musa paŵagapilikene maloŵe go ŵatisile, ŵatemi ku chilambo cha ku Midiani nti jwannendo, ni kweleko ŵaŵelechele ŵanache ŵaŵili ŵachilume.
At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
30 “Payaichile yaka alobaini, katumetume jwa kwinani jwa Ambuje jwankopochele che Musa pa chisukutu chichakolelaga mooto kwipululu kula pachiŵandi ni Litumbi lya Sinai.
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
31 Che Musa ŵachisimonjile nnope chichaoneche cho, ŵasejelele pachiŵandi kukulolechesya uchenene, nambo ŵapilikene liloŵe lya Ambuje lilinkuti,
When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
32 ‘Uneji ndili Akunnungu ŵa achambuje ŵenu, Akunnungu ŵa che Iblahimu ni ŵa che Isaka ni ŵa che Yakobo!’ Che Musa ŵatetemele kwa lipamba ni nganapunda kulolechesya sooni.
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
33 Ambuje ŵansalile, ‘Mmuule italawanda yenu pakuŵa pelepo panjimi pali papaswela.
Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Naiweni yangalumbana yakwapanganyichisya ŵandu ŵangu ŵakutama ku Misili. Mbilikene kulilasika kwao none ndulwiche kukwakulupusya, ni sambano chinantume ku Misili.’
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’
35 “Che Musa aju ni jwejula juŵankanile Ŵaisilaeli paŵansalile, ‘Ana ŵaani ŵambisile mmwejo kuŵa chilongola ni jwakulamula pa uweji?’ Kwa litala lya julajula katumetume jwa kwinani juŵankopochele che Musa mu chisukutu chichakolelaga mooto, Akunnungu ŵantumile che Musa wo aŵe chilongola ni nkulupusyo.
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 Jwelejo ni juŵaalongwesye ŵandu akopoche ku Misili kwa kupanganya imanyisyo ni yakusimonjeka mu chilambo cha ku Misili ni mu bahali ja Shamu ni mwipululu, kwa yaka alobaini.
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
37 Che Musa ni juŵaasalile Ŵaisilaeli, ‘Akunnungu chanjimuchisye jwakulondola mpela uneji kutyochela mwa achalongo achinjenu mwachinsyene.’
This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’
38 Ŵaisilaeli paŵasongangene mwipululu mula, che Musa ŵaliji kweleko pamo ni achambuje ŵetu ni katumetume jwa kwinani juŵaŵechete najo mu Litumbi lya Sinai. Jweleju ni juŵagapochele maloŵe gagakwikanawo umi kutupa uweji.
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
39 “Nambo achambuje ŵetu nganasakanga kumpilikanila che Musa, ŵantutile pambali ni ŵasachile mmitima jao kuujila ku Misili.
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 Ŵansalile che Haluni, ‘Ntupanganyichisye achiminungu jati tujipopelele ni jitulongosye mwitala, pakuŵa che Musa juŵatulongwesye kopoka ku Misili ngatukuchimanyilila chichasimene!’
They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
41 Katema ko ŵapanganyisye chinyago cha ng'ombe ja mwana, ni ŵatasile mbopesi kwa chinyago ni kuchijangalila chindu chichaliji masengo ga makono gao achinsyene.
At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
42 Nambo Akunnungu ŵatyosile pa ŵanyawo, ŵaalesile asipopele ndondwa sya kwiunde, mpela yaitite pakulembekwa mchitabu cha ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu, ‘Ŵanyamwe ŵandu ŵa chilambo cha ku Isilaeli! Ana ŵanyamwe mwambelechele inyama yesinje ni sadaka kwa yaka alobaini mwipululu mula?
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 Ŵanyamwe mwalijigele lisakasa lya nnungu jwenu Moleki, ni chinyago cha ndondwa ja nnungu jwenu Lefani. Inyago imwaipanganyisye ni iyoyo imwaipopele. Kwa ligongo lyo chinansamichisye ku ukapolo kwakutalika kupita ku Babeli!’
You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44 Achambuje ŵenu ŵakwete lisakasa lya umboni lyalikulosya kuti Akunnungu ali mwele mwipululu. Lisakasa lila lyakolochekwe mpela Akunnungu iŵatite pakwasalila che Musa akolosye, chisau ni achila chiŵachiweni.
Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
45 Nipele achambuje ŵetu ŵapochelangene achinsyene pe mpaka katema ka che Yoshua, paŵachipatile chilambo chi kutyochela kwa ŵandu ŵaŵaŵinjikwe ni Akunnungu paujo pao. Lyatemi pelepo mpaka katema ka che Daudi.
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
46 Che Daudi ŵanonyelwe ni Akunnungu nombe che Daudi ŵaŵendile Akunnungu ŵaataŵile nyuumba ŵele ŵaali Akunnungu ŵa che Yakobo.
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
47 Nambo che Selemani ni juŵantaŵile Akunnungu nyuumba.”
But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 “Natamuno yeleyo, Akumanani ngakutama mmajumba gagataŵikwe ni ŵandu, mpela yakuti jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu,
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 Ambuje akuti, ‘Kwinani kuli chitengu changu cha umwenye ni chilambo chili pakuŵichila makongolo gangu. Nyuumba jati uli jichimundaŵile une, ni liuto chi pachimbumulile?
‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?
50 Ana ngaŵa uneji jumbanganyisye yelei yose?’”
Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 Che Stefano ŵapundile kuŵecheta, “Ŵakukanila achakulungwa ŵanyamwe! Mitima ni mawiwi genu gali mpela ga ŵandu ŵangakwamanyilila Akunnungu. Ŵanyamwe nli mpela achambuje ŵenu, moŵa gose nkukanilana ni Mbumu jwa Akunnungu.
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 Ana jwapi mwa ŵakulondola jwangananlagasya achambuje ŵenu? Ŵaauleje ŵelewo ŵaŵalajiswe kalakala ni Akunnungu asale kwika kwa ajula jwakupanganya yaili yambone. Ni sambano ŵanyamwe mungalawiche ni kumbulaga.
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
53 Ŵanyamwe mwagapochele Malajisyo ga Akunnungu gagaiche kukwenu ni achikatumetume ŵa kwinani, nambo nganingakamulichisya.”
you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
54 Achakulu ŵa Nkungulu paŵagapilikene maloŵe go, yachimile nnope ni kuchilimya meeno.
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 Nambo che Stefano ali aguumbele Mbumu jwa Akunnungu, ŵalolite kwinani, ŵauweni ukulu wa Akunnungu ni Che Yesu ali ajimi kundyo kwa Akunnungu.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 Ni ŵatite, “Nnole! Ngukuwona kwinani kwakuugule ni Mwana jwa Mundu ajimi kundyo kwa Akunnungu.”
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 Pelepo ŵandu wose ŵaŵaliji pa Nkungulu ula ŵagumisile kwa liloŵe lyekulungwa ni kusiŵila mawiwi ni makono gao. Nipele ŵanguluchile ŵanawose kwana kamo,
At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 Ni ŵankopwesye mmusi ni kumponya maganga. Ŵaumboni ŵala ŵaŵisile yakuwala yao kwa jwanchanda jumo liina lyakwe che Sauli kuti aigose.
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Paŵapundile kwaponya maganga, che Stefano ŵapopele achitiji, “Alakwe Ambuje Che Yesu, mpochele mbumu jangu!”
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Ŵatindiŵele ni ŵanyanyisye achitiji, “Ambuje nkaaŵalanjila sambi si.” Paŵaŵechete yeleyo ŵajasiche. Ni che Sauli ŵakundile kuti che Stefano akuŵajilwa kuulajikwa.
Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.