Masengo 7
1 Nipele, Jwambopesi Jwankulu ŵambusisye che Stefano, “Ana yelei ni iyoyo?”
“Are these allegations true?” the high priest asked.
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.
“Brothers and fathers, listen to me!” Stephen replied. “God in his glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he moved to Haran.
3 Akunnungu ŵansalile che Iblahimu, ‘Ntyoche mchilambo chenu, mwaleche ŵandu ŵa lukosyo lwenu, njaule kuchilambo chatinganlanjile cho.’
God told him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and go to the country that I'm going to 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 he left the country of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. After his father's death, God sent him here to this country where you now live.
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.
God didn't give Abraham an inheritance here, not even one square foot. But God did promise Abraham that he would give him and his descendants possession of the land, even though he had no children.
6 Akunnungu ŵansalile yeleyi, ‘Uŵelesi wenu chiutame mu chilambo cha chilendo, ni kweleko chachatenda achikapolo ni kwasausya yaka mia nne.
God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign country, and that they would be enslaved there, and would be mistreated for four hundred years.
7 Nambo Akunnungu akuti, uneji chinjalamula ŵandu ŵa chilambo uchachatenda achikapolo. Nipele chinjakoposya mchilambo cho ni kwaikanawo apano kuti ambopele.’
God said, ‘I will punish the nation that enslaves them. Eventually they will leave and come here to worship me.’
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.
God also gave Abraham the agreement regarding circumcision, and so when Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father 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,
The patriarchs, who were jealous of Joseph, sold him into slavery in 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 gave him wisdom and helped him gain the favor of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and the royal 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.
Now a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan. It caused terrible misery, and our forefathers had no 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 there was grain in Egypt he sent our forefathers down 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.
During their second visit, Joseph revealed to his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh discovered Joseph's family background.
14 Ni che Yusufu ŵaalajisye ŵandu kukwaŵilanga che Yakobo atatigwe ni achalongo achinjakwe wose, ŵandu sabini na mbili aichanje ku Misili.
Joseph sent for his father and all his relatives—seventy-five in total.
15 Che Yakobo ŵajawile ku Misili, kweleko ni kuŵawilile pamo ni achambuje ŵetu.
Jacob traveled to Egypt, and died there—as did our forefathers.
16 Ni malilo gao gajigalikwe mpaka ku Shekemu, ni kusikwa mwilembe liŵasumile che Iblahimu kutyochela ku lukosyo lwa Hamoli kwa mbiya simpepe.”
Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought with silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 “Nambo pikaiche katema ka chilanga chiŵalumbile Akunnungu ku che Iblahimu, ŵandu ŵala ŵatupile ni konjecheka kwa nnope ku Misili kula.
As the time approached regarding the promise that God had made to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt increased.
18 Nipele ŵajimwiche mwenye jwine ku Misili jwanganammanyilila che Yusufu.
A new king came to the throne in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.
19 Mwenye jo ŵaatesile yangalumbana ni kwaonela achambuje ŵetu kwa kwakanganichisya akaajase achiŵana ŵao achanandi kuti nganasaka akole umi.
He took advantage of our people and treated our ancestors badly, forcing them to abandon their babies so they would die.
20 Katema ko che Musa ŵapagwile, nombejo ŵaliji jwambone paujo pa Akunnungu. Ŵalelitwe pa musi pa atatigwe kwa miesi jitatu,
It was at this time that Moses was born. He was a handsome child, and for three months he was looked after in his father's home.
21 ni paŵalepele kungosa mwakupunda mu nyuumba ŵankopwesye paasa, mwali jwa mwenye jwa ku Misili ŵanjigele ni kunlela mpela mwanagwe nsyene.
When he had to be abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter rescued him and took care of him as her own son.
22 Che Musa ŵajigenywe indu ya lunda lwa Ŵamisili nombejo ŵaliji jwakulimbangana kwa maloŵe ni masengo.
Moses received instruction in all areas of Egyptian knowledge, and he became a powerful speaker and leader.
23 “Paŵaliji ni yaka alobaini, ntima wakwe wasachile kwajimajimila achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli kukulola indu iŵapanganyichiswaga.
However, when he was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the Israelites.
24 Kweleko ŵambweni Mmisili jumo achimpanganyichisyaga yangalumbana jumo jwa achalongo achinjakwe, ŵapokasisye, ni che Musa kwakwauchisya ŵambuleje Mmisili jula.
He saw one of them being mistreated, so he intervened to defend him. On behalf of the man he took revenge and killed the Egyptian.
25 Ŵaganisisye kuti achalongo achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli akaimanyilile kuti Akunnungu akuntuma jwelejo kwakulupusya, nambo nganaimanyilila.
Moses thought his fellow Israelites would see that God was rescuing them through him, but they didn't.
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 when he arrived, two Israelites were fighting one another. He tried to reconcile them and stop the fight. ‘Men! You are brothers!’ he told them. ‘Why are you attacking 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 had started the fight pushed Moses away. ‘Who put you in charge over us? Are you our judge now?’ he asked.
28 Ana nkusaka kumulaga mpela imwatite pakummulaga Mmisili jula liiso?’
‘Are you going to kill me like 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.
When he heard this, Moses ran away. He went and lived in exile in the land of Midian, where two sons were born to him.
30 “Payaichile yaka alobaini, katumetume jwa kwinani jwa Ambuje jwankopochele che Musa pa chisukutu chichakolelaga mooto kwipululu kula pachiŵandi ni Litumbi lya Sinai.
Forty years later, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush.
31 Che Musa ŵachisimonjile nnope chichaoneche cho, ŵasejelele pachiŵandi kukulolechesya uchenene, nambo ŵapilikene liloŵe lya Ambuje lilinkuti,
When Moses saw this, he was amazed at the sight, and went over to take a closer look. The voice of the Lord spoke 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 and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and didn't dare look up.
33 Ambuje ŵansalile, ‘Mmuule italawanda yenu pakuŵa pelepo panjimi pali papaswela.
The Lord told him, ‘Take off your sandals, because 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 closely observed the suffering of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans. I have come down to rescue them. Now come over here, for I'm sending you 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 was the same Moses that the people had rejected when they said, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ God sent him to be both a ruler and a liberator, by means of 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.
Moses led them out after performing miraculous signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and continued to do so in the desert for forty years.
37 Che Musa ni juŵaasalile Ŵaisilaeli, ‘Akunnungu chanjimuchisye jwakulondola mpela uneji kutyochela mwa achalongo achinjenu mwachinsyene.’
This is the same Moses who promised the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from among your people.’
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.
Moses was with God's assembled people in the desert when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and there with our forefathers he received God's living word to give to us.
39 “Nambo achambuje ŵetu nganasakanga kumpilikanila che Musa, ŵantutile pambali ni ŵasachile mmitima jao kuujila ku Misili.
He was the one our fathers wouldn't listen to. They rejected him and decided to return to Egypt.
40 Ŵansalile che Haluni, ‘Ntupanganyichisye achiminungu jati tujipopelele ni jitulongosye mwitala, pakuŵa che Musa juŵatulongwesye kopoka ku Misili ngatukuchimanyilila chichasimene!’
They told Aaron, ‘Make gods for us to lead us, because we don't know what's happened to this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt.’
41 Katema ko ŵapanganyisye chinyago cha ng'ombe ja mwana, ni ŵatasile mbopesi kwa chinyago ni kuchijangalila chindu chichaliji masengo ga makono gao achinsyene.
Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf, sacrificed to it, and celebrated what they themselves had made!
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?
So God gave up on them. He left them to their worship of the stars in the sky. This is what the prophets wrote, ‘Were you giving offerings or making sacrifices to me during the forty years in the desert, you Israelites?
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!’
No, you carried the Tabernacle of the god Moloch and the image of the god Rephan's star, images that you made so you could worship them. So I will banish you in 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 ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony in the desert. God had told Moses how he should make it following the blueprint 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.
Later on, our forefathers carried it with them when they went in with Joshua to occupy the land taken from the nations the Lord drove out before them. It stayed there until the time of David.
46 Che Daudi ŵanonyelwe ni Akunnungu nombe che Daudi ŵaŵendile Akunnungu ŵaataŵile nyuumba ŵele ŵaali Akunnungu ŵa che Yakobo.
David found favor with God and asked to make a more permanent home for the God of Jacob.
47 Nambo che Selemani ni juŵantaŵile Akunnungu nyuumba.”
But it was Solomon who built a Temple for him.
48 “Natamuno yeleyo, Akumanani ngakutama mmajumba gagataŵikwe ni ŵandu, mpela yakuti jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu,
Of course the Almighty doesn't live in temples we make. As the prophet said,
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 the place I put my feet. What kind of dwelling could you build for me?’ the Lord asks. ‘What bed could you make for me to rest in?
50 Ana ngaŵa uneji jumbanganyisye yelei yose?’”
Didn't I make everything?’
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 arrogant, hard-hearted people! You never listen! You always fight against the Holy Spirit! You act just like 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.
Was there ever a prophet your fathers didn't persecute? They killed those who prophesied about the coming of the one who is truly good and right. He is the one you betrayed and murdered—
53 Ŵanyamwe mwagapochele Malajisyo ga Akunnungu gagaiche kukwenu ni achikatumetume ŵa kwinani, nambo nganingakamulichisya.”
you who received the law by means of the angels, but refused to keep it.”
54 Achakulu ŵa Nkungulu paŵagapilikene maloŵe go, yachimile nnope ni kuchilimya meeno.
When they heard this, the council members became mad with rage, and snarled at him, grinding their teeth.
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, gazed up into heaven and saw God's glory, with Jesus standing at God's right hand.
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 God's right hand.”
57 Pelepo ŵandu wose ŵaŵaliji pa Nkungulu ula ŵagumisile kwa liloŵe lyekulungwa ni kusiŵila mawiwi ni makono gao. Nipele ŵanguluchile ŵanawose kwana kamo,
But they held their hands over their ears and shouted as loudly as they could. They 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.
dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. His accusers laid their coats down beside a young man called Saul.
59 Paŵapundile kwaponya maganga, che Stefano ŵapopele achitiji, “Alakwe Ambuje Che Yesu, mpochele mbumu jangu!”
As they went on stoning him, Stephen prayed, “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.
He kneeled down, calling out, “Lord, please don't hold this sin against them!” And after he said this, he died.
