Nchito 7
1 Mupayizi mupati wakati, “Makani aya ngakasimpe na?”
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 Sitivini wakati, “Nobakwesu anomataata, mundiswilizye: Leza wabulemu wakalibonia kuli taata wesu Abbulahamu kali ku Mesopotamiya, katana kukkala mu 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 wakati kulinguwe, “Longa uzwe munyika yakulindinywe abantu bakulindinywe, mpawo uye kunyika njensikakutondezye.”
and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’
4 Mpawo wakazwa wasiya inyika yaba Kkaludiya akuyokkala ku Halani, kali nkuko oku wisi nakafwa, Leza wakamweeta munyika omuno mumukkede lino.
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 Takwe nakamupa kuti ibelukono lwakwe pe, nikuba mweenya wakuti alyate kulinjiyo. Pesi wakamusyomezya - kuti uzomupa nyika eyi kuti ibe lukono lwakwe amazyalani akwe, nikuba takalina kuba amwana pe - kuchindi echo mpakati uzomupa nyika eyi mbuli lukono kulinguwe akumazyalani ayotobela nguwe.
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 Leza wakambula anguwe anzila eyi kuti bana bakwe bayokkala munyika yabwenzu, akuti bana banyika eyo bayobajata buzike akabapenzya kapati kwaminyaka ili myanda iine. Leza wakati,
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 “Pesi ndiyobeteka musyobo wabantu abo ibayobajata buzike, kuzwa awo bayozwa bazoze omuno bazondikombe mubusena obuno.'
‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
8 Mpawo Leza wakapa Abbulahamu chizuminano chabupalule, elyo Abbulahamu wakazyala Ayizeki mpawo wamupalula mubuzuba bwamusanu aatatu; Ayizeki wakazyala Jakkobbu, mpawo Jakkobbu wakazyala ibalikkumi ababili.
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 Lino nkambo kakuti Jozefu, bananyina bakamuchitila ibbivwe bakamuuzya ku Ijiputi, pesi Leza wakali anguwe
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
10 wakamuvuna kuzwa kumapenzi akwe. Wakapa Jozefu choolwe abusongo kunembo lya Falo, mwami waku Ijiputi, iwakamusala kuba mwendelezi mu Ijiputi aatala lyempuli yakwe.
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 “Lino kwakaba bbalanwe, amapenzi mapati mu Ijiputi yoonse amu Kkenani, mpawo bamataata bakabulikilwa chakulya.
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
12 Pesi Jakobbu nakamvwa kuti ku Ijiputi kuli chakulya, wakatuma bamataata kulwendo lutanzi.
When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
13 Mulwendo lwabo lwabili Jozefu wakalitondezya kubakulana baklwe, mpawo wakabazibya kuli Falo.
On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Mpawo wakatuma bakulana bakwe kuti babwede bakaambile wisi kuti aze ku Ijiputi, antomwe abanzubo zyakwe bonse, kabali mweelwe wabantu bali makumi ali musanu aabili abantu bali musanu.
Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
15 Lino Jakobbu wakayinka wakukkala mu Ijiputi wakufwida mumo, welwakwe abamataata.
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
16 Bakabwezegwa batolwa ku Shekkemu bakubambwa mukabanda ka Abbulahamu nkakawula amuulo wansiliva kuzwa kubana ba Hamoli mu Shekkemu.
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 Lino nichakamba kuzulila chiindi chachisyomezyo nchakali waamba kuli Abbulahamu, bantu bakakomena akuvula mu Ijiputi,
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
18 lumwi kwaba uumbi mwami wakeendelezya Ijiputi mwami utakwe anchakalizi pe azya Jozefu.
Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
19 Wakeena bantu besu akubamanikizya kuti bazibye kuzyalwa kwabana bacheche kuchitila kuti abajaye.
He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
20 Muchiindi nchicho echo Mozesi wakazyalwa wakali kweebeka loko kubusyu bwa Leza, wakalondolwa kwamyezi iitatu mung'anda yawisi.
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 Eelyo nakagwisigwa aanze, mwana musimbi wa Falo wakamutangila akumukomezya mbuli mwana wakwe mulombe.
When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
22 Mozesi wakali yiide mulibonse busongo bwaba Ijiputi, mpawo wakabasinguzu mumajwi akwe amumilimu yakwe.
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
23 “Pesi nakaamba kuzulizya minyaka ilimakumi aane wakayeeya mumoyo wakwe kuti aswaye babunyina ibazyalani lya Izilayeli.
When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 Wakabona mu Izilayeli kalo kutamizigwa, Mozesi wakamuvuna mu Izilayeli nyina, wakali kupenzegwa mpawo wajaya mu Ijiputi:
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 Wakachita eezi kayeeyanga bantu bamukowa wakwe balaziba kuti Leza kwindila mukuboko kwakwe uyobapa lwangunuko pesi bo tebaka zimvwisisisya pe.
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
26 Mubuzuba butobela wakabona balumi babili kabalo kulwana, wakeezya kubavuna chaluumuno wati, “Nobalumi, muli bantu bamwi biyo, nkambonzi nimulokuchisana lwanu lwanu?”
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 Pesi ulya umwi wakali wabisizya mwenzinyina wakamutontela kule mpawo wati, 'ngwani wakakusala kuti ube mwendelezi konotubeteka?
But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
28 Uyanda kundijaya na andime mbulimbwakajaya mu Ijiputi ulya ijilo?
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Lino Mozesi nakamvwa obu wakachija, wakakuba muzwakule munyika yaba Midiyani oko nkwakakuzyala bana balombe babili.
At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
30 Elyo nikwakinda minyaka ilimakumi aane angelo wakalibonia kuli nguwe munkanda yakuchilundu cha Sinayi mumabangabanga amulilo kali muchiteeyo.
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
31 Lino Mozesi nakabona mulilo, zyakamuambya eezi, mpawo nakalikuya buswena afwifwi kuti abonesesye loko, kwakazwa ijwi lya Mwami lyakati,
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 “Ndime Leza wabamawuso, Leza wa Abbulahamu awa Ayizeki a Jakobbu.' Mozesi wakayoowa takwe nakayanda kulanga lubo pe oko.
‘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 Lino Mwami Leza wakati kulinguwe, gwisya insangu kumawulu aako, nkambo abusena mpoyimvwi mbusena busalala.
Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ndabona loko kupenzegwa kwabantu bangu balimu Ijiputi; Ndamvwa kukwila kwabo, alimwi Ndasika kuza kuzobavuna; kwalino kweza, Ndilakutuma ku Ijiputi.'
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 Oyu Mozesi nguwe ngubakakkaka nibakamba kuti, “Ngwani wakakubikka buzuluzi amubetesi?” - nguwe ngwakatuma Leza kuti abe muzuluzi amuvuni. Leza wakamutuma kwinda mukuboko kwamungelo iwakalibonia kuli Mozesi muchiteyo.
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 Mozesi wakabazulwida wabagwisya mu Ijiputi, nakachita zigambyo azitondezyo mu Ijiputi akuLwizi lwa Matete, amunkanda muminyaka ili makumi aane.
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 “Oyu Mozesi ngonguwe wakaamba kuti kuba Izilayeli, 'Leza uyomupa musinsimi kazwa akati kababunyina, musinsimi uli mbuli ndime.'
This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’
38 Oyu ngomwalumi wakali mukwiizya amungelo wakali kwambula awe atala achilundu cha Sinayi, iwakali aamwi abamataata, iwakatambula imajwi apona kuti atwambile iswebo.
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 “Pesi bamataata bakakaka kumuswilizya; bakamutontela kule kuzwa kulimbabo, mpawo mumyoyo yabo bakabweda ku Ijiputi.
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 Echo chindi bakambila Aaloni kuti tupangile baleza batatuzulwide. Oyu Mozesi, wakatugwisya mu Ijiputi tatuzi pe ichachitika kulinguwe.'
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 Lino bakapanga kanamani kumazuba ayo baleta chipayizyo kuli nkako, mpawo bakakondwa nkambo kamilimo yamaboko abo.
At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
42 Pesi Leza wakachengunuka mpawo wakapeda kukomba nyenyezi zyamulengalenga, mbuli mbukulembedwe mubbuku lyabasinsimi kuti, “Mwakandipana zipayizyo zyamitumba yabanyama kwaminyaka iili makumi aane munkanda, inywebo nobana ba Izilayeli?
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 Mwakatambula chikombelo cha Moleki antomwe anyenyeezi yaleza waLafani, azikozyanio nzimwakapanga kuti muzikombe: alimwi Ndiyomubweza nkamwiinzye mu Bbabbiloni.'
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 Bamataata bakalijisi idumba lyabukamboni munkanda, mbuli Leza mbwakalayilila nakaambula a Mozesi kuti welede kuchita mbuli mabambilo ngaakabona.
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 Musule lyayaaya, bamataata, kabali ansi lyabuzuluzi bwa Johuwa, bakatambula idumba lyakubunanina baza alyo nibakakona bulono bwanyika. Leza wakabweza bulongo wanyanzya misyobo yabantu bakalikukkala mumo wabatanda kubusyu bwamataata. Elidumba lyakaliwo munyika omuno kusikila kuchindi cha Devidi,
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 oyu wakajana cholwe kubusyu bwa Leza, mpawo wakumbila kuti ajane busena bwakukkala bwang'anda ya Jakobbu.
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
47 Pesi ngu Solomoni wakayaka ing'anda ya Leza.
But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
48 Nekuba obo, Sijulu lyamajulu takkali mung'anda iyakwa amaboko, mbuli mbwaamba musinsimi kuti,
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “Ijulu nipande lyangu mpawo inyika ngimalyatililo amawulu angu. Musyobo uli weng'anda unga ulandiyakila? Mbwamba Mwami, an, mbobuli busena bwakulyokezya kwangu?
‘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 Temaboko angu na akachita zintu eezi zyoonse?'
Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 Inywebo nobasichizindwe, nobasyajumumoyo, noba nkunulumatwi, chindi chonse mulakaka Muuya Uusalala; mulijisi inchito zyabamawuso.
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
52 Nguuli wabasinsimi ngubatakwe nibakapenzya bamawuso? Bakajaya basinsimi bakalibonia katana kusika pe Ululeme, mpawo lino mwaba basikumwaba abasikumujaya,
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 Inywebo nobantu ibakatambula mulawu oyo wakabikwa aba angelo, mpawo mwakachilwa kuulondola?”
you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
54 Lino baalu bebboma nibakamvwa makani aya, bakanyongana mumyoyo bamulumina ntwino Sitivini.
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
55 Pesi welwakwe, kazwide Muuya Uusalala, wakalungumana kujulu mpawo awo wabona bulemu bwa Leza. Elyo wakabona Mwami Jesu kayiimvwi kululyo lwa Leza.
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 Sitivini wakati, “Mulange, ndabona majulu kajulidwe, a Mwana amuntu ulimvwi kululyo lwa Leza.”
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 Kuli ezi baalu bebboma bakasinka matwi aabo, bompoolola ajwi pati, bakachijana kuli nguwe amoyo umwi.
At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
58 Bakamugwisizya aanze changuzu batanguna kumutulula mabwe, Bakamboni bakabika zisamo zyabo kumawulu amulombe uutegwa Sawulo.
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 Lino nibakali kumutulula mabwe, wakali kusompezya kuli Leza kati, “Mwami Jesu tambula muuya wangu.”
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Wakafugama wayita ajwi ip[ati wasikuti, “Mwami, mutabapi mulandu pe kuchibi eechi nchibahita.” Lino nakamaninsya kwamba makani aya, wakona mpawo.
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.
