Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Alihoi munhu umo nzunya uyo oliobhatijiwa kale, ilina lwakwe Zakaria Shikolo. Olinsuluja. Amiganiko gakwe pye galigalolile kubhusuluja bhokwe duhu.

Nulu lushiku ulomfungo uwei UShikolo adapandile uwasa ubho guja gujusalila. Abhazunya bhiye ahobhashika gumshauri asalile, adabhadililile nulu hadoo. Agabhashokeja, “Unene Nadina wasa imilimo iliminghi, hangi nadizile aha gutangaja nhulu jawiza, (injili) gubheja lina, uwikaji bhuli sabho duhu.”

Nose UShikolo agapandika sabho ninghi kufumila umo bhusuluja bhokwe. Agiyangula gulima lingunda lya bhulubha. Kubahati ya wiza, UShikalo agapona noi gubhitilija.

Nanghwe uigimba gubhitilija. Agayomba, “Ihaha,  nahilile nali mhola gete, nali ngosha namala makoye. Ihaha nahilile.” Inhungulume uluiguta, igahilaga. Naise bhanhu uludupandika dugahilaga, dugigimbaga, dugadosoga kubhitilija mpaga nulu gung’wibha UMulungu, ihaha nahilile.

Aliyo UMulungu agang’wila, “Ubhebhe uli mbuuli gubhitilija ali? Lelo bhujiku inholo yako igusolwa. Ighinhu jinijo ijo wikumingila gigubhiza ja ng’wanani?” Ukujileka jibhunile fungo, utuja najo.

KISWAHILI: HADITHI YA ZAKARIA

Alikuwepo mtu mmoja mkristu aliyebatizwa zamani, jina lake Zakaria Shikolo, alikuwa mfanya biashara mawazo yake yote yalielekea kwenye biashara yake tu. Hata siku za jumapili yeye Shikolo hakupata nafasi ya kwenda kusali.

Wakristo wenzake walipo fika kwake ili kumshauri asali, hakuwajali hata kidogo, akawajibu, “Mimi sina nafasi shughuli ni nyingi, tena sikuja hapa kutangaza injili (kubeja lina) maisha ni mali tu.”

Sasa mwishowe Shikolo alipata mali nyingi kutokana na hiyo biashara yake. Akaamua kulima shamba la pamba, kwa bahati nzuri Shikolo akavuna mno kupita kiasi.

Naye akajivuna mno kupita kiasi, akasema, “Sasa nimewika, ni mzima kabisa, nimwamume nimemaliza matatizo.” Sasa nimewika, jogoo akishiba anawika, hata sisi watu tukipata tunawika, tunajigamba, tunajivuna kupita kiasi hata kumsahau Mungu, (Ihaha nahilile) Sasa nimewika.

Lakini Mungu akamwambia, ‘Wewe ni mjinga wa kiasi gani? Leo usiku roho yako itachukuliwa na vitu vile vyote ulivyojikusanyia vitakuwa vya nani?’ Utaviacha vikiwa vimezidisha uzito wake kwenye vining’iniza vyakula, hutaenda navyo.

 

ENGLISH: THE STOTY OF ZACHARIA THE TRADER

There was a newly baptized Christian, named Zacharia Shikolo, who was a businessman. He was was always thinking about his business. Even on Sunday, Shikolo did not have time to pray.

When his fellow Christians came to him to advise him, he did not care at all. He replied, “I have no time. There are so many things to do., I have not come here to preach the gospel (to make a name).”

Now, Shikolo finally got a lot of wealth from his business. He decided to grow cotton in a big farm.Fortunately, Shikolo harvested a lot that year.

As a result, he became so arrogant. He said, “Now I have got wealth and excellent life. I have finished all the trouble. Now I have got wealth. I am like the cock that has eaten to satisfaction. I can crow.  Even we people when we get wealth, we can crow. Now I have got wealth. Everything is over.”

But God said to him, “How foolish you are. Today in the evening, your soul will be taken away and for whom will all the things you have gathered be? You will leave them behind.” Luke 12:15-21.