Masengo 7
1 Nipele, Jwambopesi Jwankulu ŵambusisye che Stefano, “Ana yelei ni iyoyo?”
Then the high priest asked, “Is this 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.
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 Akunnungu ŵansalile che Iblahimu, ‘Ntyoche mchilambo chenu, mwaleche ŵandu ŵa lukosyo lwenu, njaule kuchilambo chatinganlanjile cho.’
‘Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that 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.
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 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 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 Akunnungu ŵansalile yeleyi, ‘Uŵelesi wenu chiutame mu chilambo cha chilendo, ni kweleko chachatenda achikapolo ni kwasausya yaka mia nne.
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 Nambo Akunnungu akuti, uneji chinjalamula ŵandu ŵa chilambo uchachatenda achikapolo. Nipele chinjakoposya mchilambo cho ni kwaikanawo apano kuti ambopele.’
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 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 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 “Aŵala achambuje ŵetu ŵankolele wiu che Yusufu, ni ŵansyumisye aŵe kapolo ku chilambo cha Misili. Nambo Akunnungu ŵaliji pamo nawo,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph 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 delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favor and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole 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 a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Nipele, che Yakobo paŵapilikene kuti kwana yakulya ku Misili ko, ŵaalajisye achiŵanagwe, yaani achatati ŵetu, ajaulangane kaandanda ku Misili ko.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there 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.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself 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 an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Che Yakobo ŵajawile ku Misili, kweleko ni kuŵawilile pamo ni achambuje ŵetu.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 Ni malilo gao gajigalikwe mpaka ku Shekemu, ni kusikwa mwilembe liŵasumile che Iblahimu kutyochela ku lukosyo lwa Hamoli kwa mbiya simpepe.”
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 “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 the fulfillment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 Nipele ŵajimwiche mwenye jwine ku Misili jwanganammanyilila che Yusufu.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 Mwenye jo ŵaatesile yangalumbana ni kwaonela achambuje ŵetu kwa kwakanganichisya akaajase achiŵana ŵao achanandi kuti nganasaka akole umi.
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 Katema ko che Musa ŵapagwile, nombejo ŵaliji jwambone paujo pa Akunnungu. Ŵalelitwe pa musi pa atatigwe kwa miesi jitatu,
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 ni paŵalepele kungosa mwakupunda mu nyuumba ŵankopwesye paasa, mwali jwa mwenye jwa ku Misili ŵanjigele ni kunlela mpela mwanagwe nsyene.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found 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 learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 “Paŵaliji ni yaka alobaini, ntima wakwe wasachile kwajimajimila achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli kukulola indu iŵapanganyichiswaga.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 Kweleko ŵambweni Mmisili jumo achimpanganyichisyaga yangalumbana jumo jwa achalongo achinjakwe, ŵapokasisye, ni che Musa kwakwauchisya ŵambuleje Mmisili jula.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Ŵaganisisye kuti achalongo achinjakwe Ŵaisilaeli akaimanyilile kuti Akunnungu akuntuma jwelejo kwakulupusya, nambo nganaimanyilila.
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
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 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 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 ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Ana nkusaka kumulaga mpela imwatite pakummulaga Mmisili jula liiso?’
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’
29 Che Musa paŵagapilikene maloŵe go ŵatisile, ŵatemi ku chilambo cha ku Midiani nti jwannendo, ni kweleko ŵaŵelechele ŵanache ŵaŵili ŵachilume.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons 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 had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Che Musa ŵachisimonjile nnope chichaoneche cho, ŵasejelele pachiŵandi kukulolechesya uchenene, nambo ŵapilikene liloŵe lya Ambuje lilinkuti,
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 ‘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 ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 Ambuje ŵansalile, ‘Mmuule italawanda yenu pakuŵa pelepo panjimi pali papaswela.
Then the Lord said to him – ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot 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 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 “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 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 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 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 Che Musa ni juŵaasalile Ŵaisilaeli, ‘Akunnungu chanjimuchisye jwakulondola mpela uneji kutyochela mwa achalongo achinjenu mwachinsyene.’
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 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, 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 “Nambo achambuje ŵetu nganasakanga kumpilikanila che Musa, ŵantutile pambali ni ŵasachile mmitima jao kuujila ku Misili.
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, 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!’
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 Katema ko ŵapanganyisye chinyago cha ng'ombe ja mwana, ni ŵatasile mbopesi kwa chinyago ni kuchijangalila chindu chichaliji masengo ga makono gao achinsyene.
That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honor of their own handiwork!
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 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 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 took with you the tent where Moloch is worshiped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you 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 tent where they worshiped 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 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.
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 Che Daudi ŵanonyelwe ni Akunnungu nombe che Daudi ŵaŵendile Akunnungu ŵaataŵile nyuumba ŵele ŵaali Akunnungu ŵa che Yakobo.
David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 Nambo che Selemani ni juŵantaŵile Akunnungu nyuumba.”
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 “Natamuno yeleyo, Akumanani ngakutama mmajumba gagataŵikwe ni ŵandu, mpela yakuti jwakulondola jwa Akunnungu,
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. 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?
‘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 Ana ngaŵa uneji jumbanganyisye yelei yose?’”
Was it not my hand that 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.
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 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 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 Ŵanyamwe mwagapochele Malajisyo ga Akunnungu gagaiche kukwenu ni achikatumetume ŵa kwinani, nambo nganingakamulichisya.”
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”
54 Achakulu ŵa Nkungulu paŵagapilikene maloŵe go, yachimile nnope ni kuchilimya meeno.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Nambo che Stefano ali aguumbele Mbumu jwa Akunnungu, ŵalolite kwinani, ŵauweni ukulu wa Akunnungu ni Che Yesu ali ajimi kundyo kwa Akunnungu.
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 Ni ŵatite, “Nnole! Ngukuwona kwinani kwakuugule ni Mwana jwa Mundu ajimi kundyo kwa Akunnungu.”
“Look,” he exclaimed, “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,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 Ni ŵankopwesye mmusi ni kumponya maganga. Ŵaumboni ŵala ŵaŵisile yakuwala yao kwa jwanchanda jumo liina lyakwe che Sauli kuti aigose.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Paŵapundile kwaponya maganga, che Stefano ŵapopele achitiji, “Alakwe Ambuje Che Yesu, mpochele mbumu jangu!”
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “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 called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.
