Itendi 7
1 Bhai, bhakulungwa bha bhaabhishila gubhaabhushiye a Shitepano, “Genega ga kweli?”
Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are the things that [these people are saying about you(sg)] true?”
2 Na bhalabho a Shitepano gubhajangwile, “Ashaapwanga na ashaatati, ngunajuga mmbilikanishiyanje! Bhakulungwa a Nnungu bhashinkwaakoposhela atati a Bhulaimu pubhaaliji ku Meshopotamia bhakanabhe kwenda tama ku Alani.
Stephen replied, “Fellow Jews and respected leaders, [please] listen to me! The glorious God [whom we(inc) worship] appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was still [living] in Mesopotamia [region], before he moved to Haran [town].
3 A Nnungu gubhaabhanjile a Bhulaimu, ‘Nnjabhule pa shilambo shenu, mwaalekanje ashaalongo ajenunji, nnjende mmbali jishininnanguye.’
God said to him, ‘Leave this land where you [(sg)] and your relatives [are living], and go into the land to which I will lead you.’
4 Kwa nneyo, a Bhulaimu gubhaamile shilambo sha Kalidayo, gubhapite tama ku Alani. Ainabhabho bhakamaleje a Nnungu gubhaashoshiye kabhili gubhaishe tama mmbali jinkutamangana jino.”
So Abraham left that land, [which was also called] Chaldea, and he arrived in Haran and lived there. After his father died, God told him to move to this land in which you [and I] are now living.”
5 “A Nnungu wala bhangaapa a Bhulaimu nkali shilambo shimo kubha ulishi gwabho, ikabheje bhashinkwaalajila kuti, shibhaape shene shilambo shino shibhe shabho na ashibhana bhabho, ikabhe gene mobhago a Bhulaimu bhakakweteje mwana.
“[At that time] God did not give Abraham any [land here], not even a small plot of [this] land that would belong to him. God promised that he would [later] give this land to him and his descendants, and that it would [always] belong [to them. However], at that time Abraham did not have any children [who would] ([inherit it/receive it after he died]).”
6 A Nnungu gubhaabhalanjile nnei, ‘Ashibhana bhenu shibhapelekwanje kushilambo shangali shabhonji bhakabhanganje bhatumwa na bhonelwa kwa yaka mia pa sheshe.
“[Later] God told Abraham, ‘Your descendants will go and live in a foreign country. They [will live there] for 400 years, and [during that time their leaders] will mistreat your descendants and force them to work as slaves.’
7 Ikabheje nne shinishiukumule shene shilambo shishaatolanje ubhandasho. Kungai shinaashoyanje shene shilambosho bhajiyangane apano kubhandindibhalilanje.’
But God [also] said, ‘I will punish the people who make them work as slaves. Then, after that, your descendants will leave [that land] and they will [come and] worship me in this land.’”
8 Kungai gubhaapele malagano ga jaluka kubha shilangulo shabho. Kwa nneyo a Bhulaimu gubhantajile unyago mwanagwabho Ishaka lyubha lya nane lya bhelekwa kwakwe. Na a Ishaka nneila peila gubhantajile mwanagwabho Yakobho. Na a Yakobho nabhalabho gubhaatendilenje nneyo peyo ashinakulubhetu likumi limo na bhabhili bhala.”
“Then God commanded Abraham that [every male in his household and all of his male descendants] should be circumcised [to show that they all belonged to God] and that they would obey what he had told Abraham to do. Later Abraham’s son, Isaac, was born, and when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. [Later] Isaac’s son, Jacob, was born, and Isaac [similarly circumcised] him. And Jacob [similarly circumcised] his twelve sons. They are the twelve men [from whom we(inc) Jews have all descended].”
9 “Bhanyikala bhetu gubhammonelenje lupimililo mpwabhonji Yoshepu, kwa nneyo gubhang'ushiyenje kuubhanda ku Mishili. Ikabheje a Nnungu pubhaliji pamo naka Yoshepu,
“[You know that] Jacob’s [older] sons became jealous [because their father favored their younger brother] Joseph. So they sold him [to merchants/traders who took him] [MTY] to Egypt. There he became a slave [of an official who lived there]. But God [helped] Joseph.
10 a Nnungu gubhantapwile mmboteko yakwe yowe, gubhampele kubha mundu jwa mituka na lunda kwa a Palao bhakulungwa bha ku Mishili, mpaka a Palao gubhammishile kubha nkulungwa jwa Mishili na nyumba jabho.”
He protected him whenever people caused him to suffer. He enabled Joseph to be wise; and he caused Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to think well of Joseph. So Pharaoh appointed him to rule [over] Egypt and to look after all of Pharaoh’s property [MTY].”
11 “Kungai gushikoposhele shibhanga shilambo showe sha Mishili na ku Kanani nibha shilaje shikulungwa. Ashinakulubhetu bhakakwetenjeje shalya.
“[While Joseph was doing that work], there was a time (when there was very little food/of famine) throughout Egypt and also throughout Canaan. People did not have enough food to eat. People were suffering. [At that time] Jacob and his sons [in Canaan] also could not find [enough] food.
12 Bhai, a Yakobho bhakapilikaneje kuti ku Mishili shishipagwa shalya, gubhaatumilenje ashinakulubhetu ku Mishili
When Jacob heard [people report that] there was grain/food [that people could buy] in Egypt, he sent Joseph’s older brothers [to go there to buy grain. They went and bought grain from Joseph, but they did not recognize him. Then they returned home].
13 Mwanja gwa bhili, a Yoshepu bhakwitagulilaga kwa ashaakulu bhabho na a Palao gubhaamanyinji ashaakulu bhabho a Yoshepu.
When Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt the second time, [they again bought grain from Joseph]. But this time [he] told them who he was. [And] people told Pharaoh that Joseph’s people were Hebrews [and that those men who had come from Canaan were his brothers].
14 A Yoshepu gubhatumile ntenga kwa ainabhabho a Yakobho na ashalongo ajabho bhowe, bhajiyangane ku Mishili, pubhalinginji bhandu makumi shabha na nng'ano.
Then after Joseph sent [his brothers back home, they] told their father Jacob [that Joseph wanted] him and his entire family to come [to Egypt. At that time] ([Jacob’s family consisted of] 75 people/there were 75 people in Jacob’s family) [SYN].
15 Kwa nneyo, a Yakobho gubhapite ku Mishili na ashinakulubhetu bhananji gubhawililenje kweneko.
[So when] Jacob [heard that, he and all his family] went to [live in] Egypt.” Acts 7:15b-16 “[Later on], Jacob died [there], and our [other] ancestors, [his sons, also died there].
16 Bhai, iilu yabhonji ikujigalwaga mpaka ku Shekemu, gwiishishilwe nnikabhuli libhaumile a Bhulaimu kubhandunji bha likabhila lya Bhaamoli.
[But] the bodies [of Jacob and Joseph] were brought {[they] brought the bodies [of Jacob and Joseph]} [back to our land], and [Jacob’s body] was buried {they buried [Jacob’s body]} [in the tomb that Abraham had bought, and they buried Joseph’s body] in Shechem in the ground that [Jacob] had bought from Hamor’s sons.”
17 “Jikaishileje miongwe ja malila malagano ga a Nnungu gubhalegene na a Bhulaimu, bhandunji bhetu ku Mishili kula gubhapundilenje kujenjesheka nibha likundi likulungwa.
“Our ancestors had become very numerous when it was almost time for [God to rescue them] from Egypt, [as] he had promised Abraham that he would do.
18 Kungai, bhakulungwa bhamo bhakaamanyiji a Yoshepu gubhatemi muupalume ku Mishili.
Another king had begun to rule in Egypt. He did not know that Joseph, [long before that time, had greatly helped the people of Egypt] [MTY].
19 Bhene bhakulungwabho bhashinkwaatendelanga yangali ya mmbone na kwaapotekanga ashinakulubhetu, bhalikwaamulishanga bhaalekanje palanga ashinambombe nkupinga bhawanganje.
That king cruelly tried to get rid of our ancestors. He oppressed them and caused them to suffer greatly. He [even commanded] them to leave their baby [boys] outside [their homes] so that they would die.”
20 A Musha pubhabhelekwe gene mobhago, Musha pabhelekwe ashinkukonja. Kwa myei jitatu gwalelilwe nnyumba ja ainagwe.
“During that time Moses was born, and he was a very beautiful [LIT] [child]. So his parents [secretly] cared for him in their house for three months.
21 Bhakalepelanjeje kung'iya nnyumba gubhammishilenje palanga, abhiti Palao gubhannokwete, gubhannelile mbuti mwanagwabho.
Then they had to put him outside [the house, but] Pharaoh’s daughter [found him and] adopted him and cared for him as [though he were] her own son.
22 A Musha gubhajigenywe indu yowe ya lunda lwa Bhamishili, nibha bhandu bha manyika nkubheleketa na mwitendi.
Moses was taught {[The Egyptian teachers] taught Moses} many kinds of wise things [HYP] that the people in Egypt knew, and [when he grew up], he spoke powerfully and did things powerfully.”
23 “Bhakaishileje yaka makumi nsheshe gubhatumbilile kwenda kwaalolanga ashaalongo ajabhonji bha Ishilaeli shibhakuti tendelwanga.
“[One day] when Moses was about 40 years old, he decided that he would [go and] see his fellow Israelis. [So he went to the place where they worked].
24 Kweneko gubhammweni Mwishilaeli jumo alibhonelwa naka Mmishili, gubhapite kunnjangutila Mwishilaeli jula nkumpindikulila yatendelwe ila, gubhammuleje Mmishili jula.
He saw an Egyptian beating one of the Israelis. So he went over to help [MTY] the Israeli man who was being hurt/beat {whom [the Egyptian] was hurting/beating}, and he (got revenge on/paid back) the Israeli man by killing the Egyptian [who was hurting/beating him].
25 Bhaliganishiya kuti Bhaishilaeli ajabhonji shibhamumanyanje kuti a Nnungu bhanakwaatuma kubhaagombolanje, ikabheje bhangamumanyanga.
Moses was thinking that his fellow Israelis would understand that God had sent him to free them [from being slaves]. But they did not understand that.
26 Malabhi gakwe, gubhaabhweninji Bhaishilaeli bhabhili bhalikomananga, gubhalinjile kwaatapulanyanga bhalinkuti, ‘Mmanganya mmaulongo, kwa ndi nnabhonelana?’
The next day, Moses saw two Israeli men fighting [each other]. He tried to make them stop fighting by saying to them, ‘Men, you two are fellow [Israelis! So] (stop hurting each other!/why are you hurting each other?) [RHQ]’
27 Ammonelaga mwine jula gwabhanokolele a Musha kunyenje alinkuti, ‘Gani ammishile mmwe kubha bhaukumula bhetu?
But the man who was injuring the other man pushed Moses away and said to him, ‘(No one appointed you [(sg)] to rule and judge us [(exc)]!/Do you [(sg)] think someone appointed you [(sg)] to rule and judge us [(exc)]?) [RHQ]
28 Bhuli, nkupinga mulaga malinga shimummuleje liyo Mmishili jula?’
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 “A Musha bhakapilikaneje gene malobhego gubhabhutwishe, gubhapite tama ujeni kushilambo sha Midiani, kweneko gubhakwete bhana bhabhili bhanabhalume.
When Moses heard that, [he thought to himself, ‘Obviously, people know what I have done, and someone will kill me.’ He was afraid, so] he fled [from Egypt] to Midian land. He lived there [for some years]. He [got married, and he and his wife] had two sons.”
30 “Ikapiteje yaka makumi nsheshe, malaika jwa Bhakulungwa gwabhakoposhele a Musha pashitekete shakolelaga moto kuanga tome na Shitumbi sha Shinai.
“[One day] 40 years later, [the Lord God appeared as] an angel to Moses. He appeared in a bush that was burning in the desert near Sinai Mountain.
31 A Musha gubhakanganigwe kwa kaje bhakagabhoneje genego, bhakaegejeleje nkupinga bhalolesheye, gubhapilikene lilobhe lya Bhakulungwa.
When Moses saw that, he was greatly surprised, [because the bush was not burning up]. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord [God] say [to him],
32 ‘Nne a Nnungu bha ashinakulubhenu, a Nnungu bha a Bhulaimu na a Ishaka na a Yakobho!’ A Musha gubhajogwepe niungumila na wala bhangalinga kulolesheya kabhili.
‘I [am] the God [whom] your ancestors [worshipped]. I [am] the God that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [worship].’ Moses [was so afraid that he] began to shake. He was afraid to look [at the bush any longer].
33 Bhakulungwa gubhaabhalanjile. ‘Nng'ule ilatu yenu pabha punnjimi pano pa ukonjelo.
Then the Lord [God] said to him, ‘Take your sandals off [to show that you(sg) revere me]. Because I [am here], the place where you are standing is holy/sacred.
34 Gubhaalugulile, nikubhweni kubhonelwa kwa bhandu bhangu ku Mishili kula. Mbilikene shililo shabhonji, njituluka kukwaatapulanga. Bhai lelo, ngunakuntuma nnjende ku Mishili.’
I have surely seen how the people of Egypt are continually causing my people to suffer. I have heard my people when they groan [because those people continually oppress them]. So I have come down to rescue them [from Egypt]. Now get ready, because I am going to send you [back] to Egypt [to do that].’”
35 “A Musha pebho bhakanilwe na Bhaishilaeli bhalinkutinji, ‘Gani ammishile mmwe kubha mmakulungwa bhetu bha kutuukumula?’ Ni bhobho abhakoposhele malaika jwa kunnungu pashitekete shakolelaga moto, a Nnungu gubhaatumile a Musha kubha akalongolele na bhaukumula.
“This Moses [is the one who had tried to help our Israeli people, but] whom they rejected [by saying], ‘No one [RHQ] appointed you to rule and judge [us!’] Moses [is the one whom] God [himself] sent to rule them and to free them [from being slaves. He is the one whom] an angel in the bush [commanded to do that].
36 “Bhenebho ni bhaashoshiyenje bhandunji ku Mishili kula kwa ilapo nshilambo sha Mishili na pa bhaali ja Shamu na nng'anga, kwa yaka makumi nsheshe.
Moses [is the one who] led our ancestors out [from Egypt]. He did many kinds of miracles in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and during the 40 years [that the Israelite people lived] in the desert.
37 A Musha ni bhaalugulilenje Bhaishilaeli. ‘Bhakulungwa a Nnungu bhenunji, shibhanng'agulilanje nkulondola jwabho jwa malinga nne kukopoka munkumbi gwa ashaalongo ajenunji, mumpilikanishiyanje jwenejo.’
This Moses is the one who said to the Israelite people, ‘God will appoint a prophet for you from among your own people. [He will speak words from God], just like I [speak his words to you].’
38 A Musha pubhaaliji na bhandu bha a Nnungu kuanga naka malaika jwa kunnungu abhelekete nabho kushitumbi sha Shinai jula na ashainabhetu. Bhalabho ni bhapegwilwe malobhe ga taga gumi bhatulungushiye uwe.
This man [Moses] was [our people’s leader] when they gathered together in the desert. It is Moses to whom [God sent] the angel on Sinai Mountain to [give him our laws], and [he was the one who told] our [other] ancestors [what the angel had said]. He was the one who received [from God] words that tell us how to live [eternally, and Moses] passed [them] on to us.”
39 “Ikabheje ashinakulubhetu gubhakanilenje kwaapilikanila, nikwanokolelanga kunyenje mmitima jabhonji bhalilokolilanga kubhuja ku Mishili.
“[However], our ancestors did not want to obey [Moses]. Instead, [while he was still on the mountain], they rejected him [as their leader] and decided that they wanted to return to Egypt.
40 Gubhaabhalanjilenje a Aluni. ‘Ntualashiye ashinnungu bha yanamu bhatulongoleyanje mumpanda, pabha a Musha bhatulongolele kukopoka ku Mishili tukakwiimanya yaakoposhele!’
So they told [his older brother] Aaron, ‘Make idols for us who will be our gods to lead us [back to Egypt]! As for that fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt we [(exc)] do not know what has happened to him!’
41 “Penepo gubhaialashiyenje shanamu sha litumbwe lya ng'ombe, gubhatandubhenje kushibhishila mbepei akuno bhalikushiangalilanga shindu shaalaya ashaayene kwa makono gabhonji.
So, they made [out of gold] an image [that looked like] a calf. Then they sacrificed [animals and offered other things] to [honor] that idol, and they sang and danced to honor the idol that they themselves had made.
42 Ikabheje a Nnungu gubhaaleshilenje, nkupinga bhaitindibhalilanje indu ya kunani kuliunnde, malinga shiyajandikwe nshitabhu sha ashinkulondola bha a Nnungu, ‘Mmanganya mmandu bha pa Ishilaeli! Mwambelenje indu na mbepei, kwa yaka makumi nsheshe kuanga kula?
So God rejected them. He abandoned them to worship the sun, moon and stars in the sky. This agrees with the words that one of the prophets wrote that God said, You Israelite [people] [MTY], when you [repeatedly] killed animals and offered them as sacrifices during those 40 years [that you were] in the desert, (you [most certainly] were not offering them to me!/what makes you think that you were offering them to me?) [RHQ]
43 Mmanganya gunnjigelenje liema lika nnungu Moleki, na shanamu sha lutondwa luka nnungu jwenunji Lepani. Igobhi imwaieleyenje nkupinga mwiitindibhalilanje. Kwa nneyo, shinimpelekanje kuubhanda kwaataliya kupunda ku Bhabhuloni!’
[On the contrary], you carried [with you from place to place] the tent [that contained the idol] representing [the god] Molech [that you worshipped]. You also [carried with you] the image of the star [called] Rephan. [Those] were idols that you had made, [and you] worshipped [them instead of me]. So I will [cause you to] be taken away {[people to] take you} [from your own country. You will be taken] {[They will take you]} [far from your homes to regions] even farther than Babylon [Country].”
44 “Kuanga kula ashinakulubhetu bhakwetenje liema lya kong'ondela ndamo ja a Nnungu. Lyashinkualaywa na a Musha malinga shibhalugulilwe na languywa na a Nnungu.
“While our ancestors were in the desert, they worshipped God at the tent that showed [that he was there with them]. They had made the tent exactly like God had commanded Moses [to make it. It was] exactly like the model that Moses had seen [when he was up on the mountain].
45 Kungai ashinakulubhetu bhatendaga poshelananga liema lila mpaka mobha ga a Yoshua, pubhatolilenje shilambo, ashaayene shilambo bhakabhingwanjeje na a Nnungu. Penepo gulitemi mpaka mobha ga a Daudi.
[Later on], other ancestors of ours carried that tent with them when Joshua led them [into this land]. That was during the time that they took this land for themselves, when God forced the people [who previously lived here] to leave. So the Israelis were able to possess this land. [The tent remained in this land and was still here] when [King] David ruled.
46 A Daudi gubhatendelwe mituka na a Nnungu, gubhaajujile bhenebho bhaashenjele ndamo a Nnungu bha a Yakobho.
David pleased God, and he asked God to let him build a house where [he and] all of our Israeli people could worship God.
47 Ikabheje a Shelemani ni bhaashenjele nyumba a Nnungu.
But [instead, God let David’s son] Solomon build a house [where people could worship] God.”
48 “Nkali nneyo Bhakulungwa a Nnungu bhakaatama nnyumba ja shenga mundu, malinga shibhaabheleketa ankulondola bha a Nnungu,
“However, [we(inc) know that] God is greater than everything, and he does not live in [houses that] people [SYN] have made. It is like the prophet [Isaiah] wrote. He wrote [these words that God had spoken: ]
49 Bhakulungwa bhakuti, ‘Kunnungu ni shitengu shangu sha upalume, na pa shilambolyo ni pa bhishila makongono gangu. Shinnjenjelanje nyumba ja shanabhuli? Kushindame pumulila kwei?
Heaven is (my throne/the place from which I rule the entire universe), and the earth is (my footstool/[merely like] a stool on which I may rest my feet). I myself [SYN] have made everything [both in heaven and on the earth]. So you [human beings], ([you] really cannot build a house that would be [adequate] for me!/do you think you can build a house that would be [appropriate] for me?) [RHQ] You cannot [RHQ] make a place good enough for me [to live in]!”
50 Indu yowei ng'eleye nne.’
51 “Mmanganya bha mbwinya! Mitima na makutu genunji gakakwakunda a Nnungu! Punninginji malinga ashinakulubhenunji. Mobha gowe nnakuntaukanga Mbumu jwa Ukonjelo.
“You people are extremely stubborn [MET], not wanting to obey God or listen [MTY] [to him!] You are exactly like your ancestors! You always resist the Holy Spirit [as they did]!
52 Bhuli, apali nkulondola jojowe jwa a Nnungu ashinakulubhenunji jubhanga mpotekenga? Bhashinkwaabhulaganga bhalondolenje kwiya kwa Bhakwete Unguja, mmanganya gumwaakanilenje nikwaabhulaga.
Your ancestors caused [RHQ] every prophet to suffer, [including Moses]. They even killed those who long ago announced [that the Messiah] would come, the one who always did what pleased God. [And the Messiah has come! He is the one whom] you [recently] turned over [to his enemies] and [insisted that] they kill him!
53 Mmanganya mwaposhelenje shalia jimwapegwilwenje naka malaika jwa kunnungu, ikabheje mwangakundanga.”
You [are the people] who have received God’s laws. [Those were laws] that God caused angels to give [to our ancestors]. However, [incredibly], you have not obeyed them!”
54 Bhanangulungwa bha lukumbi bhakapilikananjeje genega, gujaapotekenje mitima, bhalikwiilumanga meno kwa shimwa.
When the Jewish Council members [and others there] heard all that [Stephen said], they became very angry. They were grinding their teeth [together because they were so angry] at him!
55 Ikabheje a Shitepano akuno bhali bhagumbelwe naka Mbumu jwa Ukonjelo, gubhalolile kunani, gubhagubhweni Ukonjelo Gwa puya gwa a Nnungu na a Yeshu bhajimi kunkono nnilo gwa a Nnungu.
But the Holy Spirit completely controlled Stephen. He looked up into heaven and saw a dazzling light from God, and [he saw] Jesus standing at God’s right side.
56 Gubhashite, “Nnolanje! Ngunakukubhona kunnungu kushiunukulwa na Mwana juka Mundu ashijima kunnilo kwa a Nnungu.”
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open, and I [see] the one who came from heaven standing at God’s right side!”
57 Penepo, bhandunji bhowe pa lukumbi pala gubhajobhelenje akuno bhaliibhanga makutu gabhonji na makono. Kungai gubhaaumbilenje kwapamo,
[When the Jewish Council members and others heard that], they shouted loudly. They put their hands over their ears [so that they could not hear Stephen, and immediately] they all rushed at him.
58 gubhaakopoyenje palanga shilambo, gubhaakomilenje maganga. Bhakong'ondelenje bhala gubhabhishilenje nngubho yabhonji muulinda guka nshanda jumo ashemwaga Shauli.
They dragged him outside the city [of Jerusalem] and started to throw stones at him. The people who were accusing him [took off] their outer garments [in order to throw stones more easily, and] they put their clothes [on the ground] next to a young man whose name was Saul, [so that he could guard them].
59 Gubhapundilenje kwaakoma maganga akuno a Shitepano bhalijuga Nnungu bhalinkuti, “Mmakulungwa a Yeshu mposhele mbumu yangu!”
While they continued to throw stones at Stephen, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Gubhatindibhele, nigubhagutile kwa lilobhe likulungwa bhalinkuti. “Mmakulungwa nnaalombolanje kwa shene shilebhoshi.” Bhakabheleketeje genego gubhamalile. Na bhalabho a Shauli gubhashibhweni shitendi sha kwabhulaga a Shitepanosho, kuti sha mmbone.
Then Stephen fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not punish them (OR, forgive them) [LIT] for this sin!” After he had said that, he died.
