Acts 7
1 Then the High Priest asked him, "Are these statements true?"
Zvino mupristi mukuru akati: Ko zvinhu izvi zvakadai here?
2 The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,
Zvino akati: Varume, hama nemadzibaba, teererai. Mwari wekubwinya wakaonekwa kuna baba vedu Abhurahama vari muMesopotamia, vasati vagara Harani,
3 and said to him, "'Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.'
akati kwaari: Buda munyika yako nekuhama dzako, uuye kunyika yandichakuratidza.
4 "Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.
Zvino vakabuda munyika yeVaKaradhia, vakagara muHarani; zvino kubva ipapo shure kwekufa kwababa vavo, wakavabvisira kunyika iyi yamunogara imwi ikozvino;
5 But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.
asi haana kuvapa nhaka mairi, kwete kunyange chitsiko chetsoka, asi wakavimbisa kuvapa iyo ive yavo, neyembeu yavo shure kwavo, vasati vava nemwana.
6 And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.
Mwari ndokutaura seizvi, kuti mbeu yavo ichava mutorwa kunyika yeumweni, uye vachaiita nhapwa nekuibata zvakaipa makore mazana mana;
7 "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them, I will judge,' said God; 'and afterwards they shall come out, and they shall worship Me in this place.'
asi rudzi urwo rwavachava varanda kwarwuri ndicharwutonga ini, wakadaro Mwari; uye shure kweizvozvo vachabuda vagondishumira panzvimbo ino.
8 "Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.
Zvino akavapa sungano yedzingiso, naizvozvowo vakabereka Isaka, vakamudzingisa zuva rerusere; naIsaka wakabereka Jakobho; naJakobho mateteguru gumi nemaviri.
9 "The Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him
Mateteguru akagodoka, vakatengesa Josefa kuEgipita; asi Mwari waiva naye.
10 and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household.
Akamusunungura pamatambudziko ake ese, akamupa nyasha nenjere pamberi paFarao mambo weEgipita; ndokumuita mutungamiriri pamusoro peEgipita neimba yake yese.
11 But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.
Zvino kwakauya nzara panyika yese yeEgipita neKenani, nedambudziko guru; madzibaba edu akasawana kudya.
12 When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.
Asi Jakobho wakati anzwa kuti kwaiva nezviyo kuEgipita, wakatuma madzibaba edu kwekutanga.
13 On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.
Zvino kwechipiri Josefa wakaziviswa kuvanakomana vababa vake; uye rudzi rwaJosefa rwukaziviswa kuna Farao.
14 Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his family, numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,
Zvino Josefa akatumira akadana baba vake Jakobho nehama dzake dzese, iri mweya makumi manomwe nemishanu.
15 and Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and so did our forefathers,
Zvino Jakobho akaburukira Egipita, ndokufa iye nemadzibaba edu;
16 and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.
uye vakatakurirwa Shekemi, vakaradzikwa paguva Abhurahama raakange atenga nemutengo wesirivheri kuvanakomana vaEmori weShekemi.
17 "But as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people became many times more numerous in Egypt,
Zvino nguva yechivimbiso yakati yaswedera Mwari chaakange apikira kuna Abhurahama, vanhu vakakura, vakawanda muEgipita,
18 until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.
kusvikira umwe mambo amuka wakange asingazivi Josefa.
19 He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.
Ndiye wakabata rudzi rwedu nemano-mano, akatambudza madzibaba edu, achivarasisa vacheche vavo kuti varege kurarama.
20 At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.
Munguva iyoyo Mozisi wakaberekwa, uye wakange akanaka kuna Mwari; ndokurerwa mumba mababa vake mwedzi mitatu.
21 At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, and brought him up as her own son.
Zvino wakati araswa, mukunda waFarao akamunonga, akazvirerera iye kuti ave mwanakomana wake.
22 So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.
Mozisi akadzidziswa muuchenjeri hwese hweVaEgipita; akava nesimba pamashoko nepamabasa.
23 "And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.
Zvino makore makumi mana akati asvika kwaari, zvakasvika mumoyo make kushanyira hama dzake, vana vaIsraeri.
24 Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.
Zvino achiona umwe achiitirwa zvisakarurama, akamurwira ndokutsivira wakange achitambudzwa, akarova muEgipita;
25 He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.
zvino waifunga kuti hama dzake dzichanzwisisa kuti Mwari anovapa ruponeso neruoko rwake; asi havana kunzwisisa.
26 The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'
Zvino zuva raitevera wakazvionesa kwavari vachirwa, akavayananisa nesimba achiti: Varume, imwi muri hama; munoitiranirei zvisakarurama?
27 "But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?
Zvino iye wakange achiitira umwe wake zvakaipa wakamusundidzira achiti: Ndiani wakuita mutungamiriri nemutongi pamusoro pedu?
28 Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
Iwe unoda kundiuraya, sezvo wakauraya muEgipita zuro here?
29 "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the country and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
Zvino neshoko iri Mozisi wakatiza, ndokuva mutorwa munyika yeMidhiani, kwaakabereka vanakomana vaviri.
30 "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the Desert of Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire in a bush.
Zvino makore makumi mana akati azadziswa, kwakaonekwa kwaari murenje regomo Sinai mutumwa waIshe mumurazvo wemoto wemugwenzi.
31 When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,
Mozisi wakati aona, akashamisika nechionekwa ichi; zvino paaiswedera kunocherekedza, inzwi raIshe rikasvika kwaari richiti:
32 "'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.
Ndini Mwari wemadzibaba ako, Mwari waAbhurahama, naMwari waIsaka, naMwari waJakobho. Zvino Mozisi akadedera akasashinga kucherekedza.
33 "'Take off your shoes,' said the Lord, 'for the spot on which you are standing is holy ground.
Zvino Ishe akati kwaari: Kurura shangu patsoka dzako, nokuti nzvimbo yaumire pairi ivhu dzvene.
34 I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to Egypt.'
Ndaonesesa dambudziko revanhu vangu vari muEgipita, ndikanzwa kugomera kwavo, zvino ndaburuka kuzovasunungura; ikozvino uya, ndichakutuma kuEgipita.
35 "The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, 'Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' --that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Uyu Mozisi wavakaramba vachiti: Ndiani wakakuita mutungamiri nemutongi? Ndiye Mwari waakatuma kuva mutungamiriri nemudzukunuri neruoko rwemutumwa, wakaonekwa kwaari mugwenzi.
36 This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.
Iye akavabudisa, aita zvishamiso nezviratidzo munyika yeEgipita nemuGungwa Dzvuku, nemurenje makore makumi mana.
37 This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, "'God will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren, just as He raised me up.'
Ndiye uyu Mozisi wakati kuvana vaIsraeri: Ishe Mwari wenyu achakumutsirai Muporofita pahama dzenyu, wakafanana neni; muchamunzwa iye.
38 'This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.
Uyu ndiye wakange ari mukereke murenje, ane mutumwa wakataura naye mugomo Sinai ane madzibaba edu; wakagamuchira mashoko mapenyu kuti atipe.
39 "Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
Ndiye madzibaba edu wavakange vasingadi kuteerera; asi vakamusundidzira parutivi, vakadzokera kuEgipita mumoyo yavo.
40 They said to Aaron, "'Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'
Vachiti kuna Aroni: Tiitire vamwari vachatitungamirira; nokuti Mozisi uyu wakatibudisa munyika yeEgipita, hatizivi zvamuwira.
41 "Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made.
Zvino vakaita mhuru mumazuva ayo, vakauisa chibairo kuchifananidzo, vakafara nemabasa emaoko avo.
42 So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel?
Zvino Mwari akafuratira, akavakumikidza kuti vashumire hondo yekudenga, sezvakanyorwa mubhuku revaporofita, zvichinzi: Ko makauisa kwandiri here zvibairo nezvipo makore makumi mana murenje, imwi imba yaIsraeri?
43 Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan--the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'
Uye makatakura tabhenakeri yaMoroki, nenyeredzi yamwari wenyu Remifani, zvifananidzo zvamakaita kuti muzvinamate; uye ndichakutamisirai mberi kweBhabhironi.
44 "Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen.
Madzibaba edu aiva netabhenakeri yeuchapupu murenje, sekuraira kwaiye wakataura naMozisi kuti aiite nemufananidzo waakange aona;
45 That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.
yakatiwo madzibaba edu aitevera aigamuchira, akaipinza pamwe naJoshua munhumbi dzevahedheni, Mwari vaakadzinga pamberi pechiso chemadzibaba edu, kusvika kumazuva aDhavhidhi;
46 David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
wakawana nyasha pamberi paMwari, akakumbira kuwanira Mwari waJakobho tabhenakeri.
47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
Asi Soromoni wakamuvakira imba.
48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,
Asi Wekumusoro-soro haagari mutembere dzakaitwa nemaoko, sezvinoreva muporofita achiti:
49 "'The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?
Denga chigaro changu cheushe, nenyika chitsiko chetsoka dzangu; muchandivakira imba yakadini? ndizvo zvinoreva Ishe; kana nzvimbo yezororo rangu ndeipi?
50 Did not My hand form this universe.'
Ruoko rwangu haruna kuita zvinhu izvi zvese here?
51 "O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were.
Imwi vemitsipa mikukutu uye vasina kudzingiswa pamoyo nenzeve, imwi munogara muchipikisa Mweya Mutsvene; semadzibaba enyu saizvozvo imwi.
52 Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--
Ndeupi wevaporofita madzibaba enyu wavasina kushusha? Vakauraya avo vaifanozivisa nezvekuuya kweWakarurama, iye ikozvino wamava vatengesi nevaurayi vake.
53 you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have not obeyed it."
Imwi vakagamuchira murairo neurongwa hwevatumwa, asi mukasauchengeta.
54 As they listened to these words, they became infuriated and gnashed their teeth at him.
Zvino vanzwa zvinhu izvi vakabaiwa pamoyo yavo, vakamugedera-gedera meno.
55 But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
Asi azere neMweya Mutsvene wakatarisisa kudenga, akaona kubwinya kwaMwari, naJesu amire kuruoko rwerudyi rwaMwari,
56 "I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
akati: Tarirai, ndinoona matenga akazaruka, neMwanakomana wemunhu amire kuruoko rwerudyi rwaMwari.
57 Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, rushed upon Stephen in a body,
Zvino vakadanidzira nenzwi guru, vakadzivira nzeve dzavo, vakamhanyira paari nemoyo umwe;
58 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.
vakamubudisira kunze kweguta, ndokumutaka nemabwe; nezvapupu zvikaisa nguvo dzazvo patsoka dzejaya rainzi Sauro.
59 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Zvino vakataka Sitefano nemabwe, achidana achiti: Ishe Jesu, gamuchirai mweya wangu.
60 Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
Zvino wakafugama, akadanidzira nenzwi guru, achiti: Ishe, musavaverengera chivi ichi. Zvino wakati areva izvi, akarara.
