To The Word – Day 133

₁Ezi ziziganeko zexesha likakumkani uAsuwerosi, ukumkani owayelawula amaphondo alikhulu elinamashumi amabini anesixhenxe, eqalela eIndiya, athi xhaxhe ngeKushe. ₂Ikomkhulu likakumkani uAsuwerosi lowo lalisebhotwe eSusa. ₃Ke kaloku kunyaka wakhe wesithathu elawula wenza itheko ewonga izikhulu namaphakathi akhe. Kwelo theko ke zazikho neengqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi wamaPeshiya namaMedi, kunye namatshawe nezikhulu zamaphondo.

₄Yaba ziintsuku ezininzi ezilikhulu elinamashumi asibhozo esenza umboniso ngaloo ntaphane yobutyebi bombuso wakhe kunye nobukhazikhazi bobungangamsha nobuhandiba bakhe. ₅Zithe ke zakuphela ezo ntsuku, ukumkani wenza elinye itheko elathatha isixhenxe seentsuku, lona elenzela kumyezo ongaphakathi apho ebhotwe. Lona ke wayelenzela umntu wonke, kusukela koyena uphantsi kuye koyena mkhulu, bonke ababelapho kwibhotwe laseSusa. ₆Lo myezo ke wawuhonjisiwe, uqhelezela, kujinga amalaphu amhlophe naluhlaza. La malaphu ayeqhinwe ngemisonto emhlophe nemfusa, ebotshelelwe kumakhonkco esiliva anxityelelwe kwiintsika ezakhiwe ngelitye elimhlophe lemabhula. Kwakukho nezitulo ezimfuma-mfuma zegolide nesiliva, zikwinkundla eyandlalwe ngamatye abomvu, namhlophe, nabengezelayo, namanye angamabala-bala. ₇Kwathungwa iwayini kwiindebe zegolide iyileyo yahlukile kwenye, yabe ke newayini leyo ingeninzi izizantyala-ntyala ngokwezinwe zikakumkani. ₈Ngokomyalelo kakumkani ke wonke umntu kwezo ndwendwe wavunyelwa ukuba ayisele ngendlela yakhe, njengoko ukumkani wayeyalele iinjoli zewayini ukuba zithungele umntu ngamnye ngangoko afuna ngako.

₉Ke kaloku nokumkanikazi uVashiti wenzela amakhosikazi itheko kwalapho ebhotwe kwakumkani uAsuwerosi.

₁₀Kuthe ke ngosuku lwesixhenxe, xa kanye ukumkani uAsuwerosi wayenomqhele yiwayini, suka wabiza amaphakathi akhe asebhotwe asixhenxe: uMehuman, uBhizeta, uHabhona, uBhigeta, uAbhageta, uZetare, noKakasi. ₁₁Wona wawayalela ukuba ezise ukumkanikazi uVashiti, ammise phambi kwakhe evathile, ethwele iqhiya yobukumkanikazi, khon' ukuze aqhayise ngobo bunzwakazi bakhe ebantwini ndawonye nezikhulu zakhe. Kaloku wayeyinzwakazi ethi ndijonge. ₁₂Kambe ke amaphakathi lawo athe akuwudlulisa loo myalelo kakumkani, suka ukumkanikazi uVashiti wala ukuza. Hayi ke, yeka ukuvutha kukakumkani ngumsindo.

₁₃Njengoko yayilisiko ukuba ukumkani athetha-thethane neengcali kwimicimbi yomthetho nobulungisa, naye ke wadlan' iindlebe namadoda azizilumko awuqondayo umthetho, ₁₄engawona ayintong' esekhosi kakumkani: uKashena, uShetare, uAdemata, uTashishe, uMeresi, uMasena, noMemukan. La madoda asixhenxe ayezizikhulu zamaPeshiya namaMedi, esondele ngendlela eyodwa kukumkani, futhi ekwezona zikhundla ziphambili apho embusweni.

₁₅Ukumkani wabuza wathi: “Ngokomthetho makwenziwe ntoni ngokumkanikazi uVashiti? Kaloku yena akawuthobelanga umyalelo kakumkani uAsuwerosi awuxelelwe ngamaphakathi.”

₁₆Ke uMemukan wamphendula ukumkani lowo zikho nezinye izikhulu, wathi: “Ukumkanikazi uVashiti lo akonanga ukumkani kuphela, koko uzonile zonke izikhulu nabo bonke abantu bamaphondo onke kakumkani uAsuwerosi. ₁₇Ngoko ke esi simo sokumkanikazi siza kwaziwa ngabo bonke abanye abafazi, baze ke nabo bawadele amadoda abo, besithi: ‘Nkqu nokumkani uAsuwerosi ngokwakhe wathi akuyalela ukuba ukumkanikazi uVashiti eziswe phambi kwakhe wasuka wala ukumkanikazi ukuza.’ ₁₈Kunamhlanje-nje bonke abafazi bezikhulu zamaPeshiya namaMedi abevileyo ngesi simo sikakumkanikazi baza kwenza kwangolo hlobo kwizikhulu zikakumkani. Ngenxa yalo mzekelo ukungevisisani nentswela-mbeko soze ziphinde ziphele.

₁₉“Ngoko ke xa kukholekile kukumkani, umhlekazi makenze isihlokomiso ngokwasemthethweni, agunyazise ukuba sibhalwe kwimithetho yamaPeshiya namaMedi engenakuguqulwa. Isihlokomiso eso masimvalele ukumkanikazi uVashiti angaze aphinde athi cakatha kwibhotwe likakumkani uAsuwerosi. Kananjalo ke, ukumkani esi sikhundla sikaVashiti makasinikezele kumntu wumbi olungileyo kunaye. ₂₀Xa sithe sabhengezwa esi sihlokomiso sikakumkani kuwo wonke loo mmandla wakhe ubanzi kangakanana, bonke abafazi baya kutsho bawahlonele amadoda abo, kuqalela koyena uphantsi kuye koyena uphezulu.”

₂₁Ke kaloku ukumkani ndawonye nezikhulu zakhe baneliseka leli cebiso, waza ke ukumkani wenza ngokwecebiso likaMemukan. ₂₂Wathumela iincwadi kuzo zonke iindawo eziphantsi kokumkani, incwadi nganye ibhalwe ngolwimi nendlela yokubhala yephondo ngalinye, esithi yonke indoda mayibe ngumlawuli endlwini yayo, ithethe ngokubona kwayo.

₁Ke kaloku wakuba uthothile umsindo kakumkani uAsuwerosi, wamkhumbula uVashiti nesenzo sakhe, ngokunjalo nesihlokomiso awasikhuphayo ngenxa yakhe. ₂Ke izicaka ezazimququzelela ukumkani zathi kuye: “Makhe kwenziwe uphando, kukhangelelwe ukumkani iintombi-nto ezintle kunene. ₃Ukumkani makamisele abaphathi kwiphondo ngalinye elikumbuso wakhe, baze ke ezo nzwakazi zeentombi bazizise kwinkundla yabafazi ebhotwe eSusa. Zona ezo ntombi mazigcinwe nguHegayi iphakathi likakumkani elijongene nabafazi. Zothatha ithuba ke zizilungisa ngezithambiso zobuhle. ₄Ke intombi ethe yamkholisa ukumkani yoba ngukumkanikazi esikhundleni sikaVashiti.” Eli cebiso ke lamkeleka kukumkani, waza walisebenzisa.

₅Ke kaloku apho komkhulu eSusa kwakukho umJuda wendlu kaBhenjamin ogama linguModekayi unyana kaJayire, kaShimeyi, kaKishe. ₆Yena ke wathinjwa ngukumkani uNebhukadenezare eJerusalem waya naye eBhabheli engomnye wâbo babethinjwe noJoyakin ukumkani wakwaJuda. ₇UModekayi lo ke wayenomzala ogama linguHadasa awayeze naye apho eBhabheli kuba eyinkedama engenatata namama. Le ntombi ke, egama limbi lalinguEstere, yayimile kakuhle iyinzwakazi. UModekayi lo ke wayithatha njengomntwana wakhe yakuba iswelekelwe nguyise nonina.

₈Uthe ke wakuba ubhengeziwe umyalelo nesihlokomiso sikakumkani kweziswa iintombi ezininzi apho komkhulu eSusa, zanikezelwa ukuba zigcinwe nguHegayi. NoEstere ke wasiwa apho ebhotwe, waselugcinweni lukaHegayi owayejongene nenkundla yababhinqileyo. ₉Le ntombi inguEstere ke yamkholisa ngokupheleleyo. Ngoko nangoko ke wayixhasa ngezinto zobuhle, eyityisa ooni nooni. Wamnikezela esandleni sabafazi abasixhenxe abâkhethwa kwalapho komkhulu, waza ke uEstere nâbo bafazi bahlaliswa kwawona magumbi aphambili kwelo cala lababhinqileyo.

₁₀Ke kaloku uEstere lo wayengazange azichaze imvelaphi nohlanga lwakhe, kuba uModekayi wayethe makangazixeli. ₁₁Mihla le uModekayi wayesoloko ehamba-hamba apho ngakuloo nkundla, eze kuqonda ukuba kuqhubeka ntoni na ngoEstere.

₁₂Phambi kokuba intombi iye kukumkani uAsuwerosi kwakufuneka ithathe ishumi elinambini leenyanga iphathwe ngemigqalisela yobuhle eyayimiselwe ababhinqileyo. Iinyanga ezintandathu yayithambisa amafutha emore, ngezinye ezintandathu ithambise ubulawu neziqholo. ₁₃Lo mcimbi ke wawuqhutywa ngolu hlobo ukuze intombi leyo isiwe kukumkani: nantoni na eyifunayo yayiyinikwa, iyithathe apho kwelo cala lababhinqileyo, iye nayo kwibhotwe likakumkani. ₁₄Yayingena khona ngorhatya, ize kusasa ibuyele kwelinye icala kwalapho kwelababhinqileyo, ngoku ibe sesandleni sikaShashagazi, iphakathi likakumkani elalijongene namaqadi. Ke kaloku emva koko yayingaphindeli kukumkani ngaphandle kokuba abe ukholisiwe yiyo. Xa kunjalo ke wayeyibiza ngegama.

₁₅Lithe ke lakufika ithuba likaEstere (intombi leyo eyayigcinwe nguModekayi, iyintombi kayisekazi uAbhihayili) ukuba aye kuvela phambi kokumkani, yena akafunanga nto yimbi ngaphandle kwezo zinto wayezicetyiswe nguHegayi iphakathi likakumkani elalijongene nenkundla yababhinqileyo. Ke yena uEstere wamkholisa wonke umntu owambonayo. ₁₆UEstere ke wasiwa kukumkani uAsuwerosi phakathi ebhotwe apho wayehlala khona ngoTebhete inyanga yeshumi kunyaka wesixhenxe wolawulo lukakumkani uAsuwerosi.

₁₇Ke kaloku ukumkani lowo wakhangwa ngendlela eyodwa nguEstere lowo; ewe, kuzo zonke ezo ntombi ayikho eyawelwa ngukumkani njengoEstere lowo, yena wamkholisa ngokugqithisileyo. Ngoko ke ukumkani wathwesa uEstere iqhiya yobukumkanikazi, wamfaka esikhundleni sikaVashiti. ₁₈Ukumkani ke wenzela izikhulu namaphakathi akhe itheko elikhulu egameni likaEstere. Wamisela iholide kuwo onke amaphondo awayephantsi kwakhe, wasasaza izipho zazininzi, ziphuma esandleni sikakumkani.

₁₉Zathi xa zihlanganisene okwesibini ezo ntombi waye yena uModekayi ehleli ngasesangweni apho kwakumkani. ₂₀Ke yena uEstere wahlala eyifihlile imvelaphi yakhe ndawonye nobuhlanga bakhe kanye ngaloo ndlela wayeyalelwe ngayo nguModekayi. Kaloku nangoku wahlala esephantsi kweengcebiso zikaModekayi kwanjengoko wayesenza ukumkhulisa kwakhe.

₂₁Ke kaloku ngelo thuba uModekayi wayesesangweni apho kwakumkani, uBhigetan noTereshe, isibini samaphakathi kakumkani esasilinda amasango, bobabini basuka bacaphuka, baza baceba ukwenza iyelenqe lokubulala ukumkani uAsuwerosi. ₂₂Ke uModekayi walibhaqa elo yelenqe, waza waxelela ukumkanikazi uEstere, owathi yena waxelela ukumkani egameni likaModekayi. ₂₃Lithe ke lakufunyaniswa ubunyani balo elo yelenqe, loo maphakathi mabini athathwa abulawa ngokuxhonywa. Yonke ke le ngcombolo yabhalwa encwadini yeembali nokumkani ngokwakhe ekhona.

₁Ke kaloku emva kwezo ziganeko ukumkani uAsuwerosi wawonga uHaman unyana kaHamedata um-Agagi, wamphakamisa wamnika esona sihlalo siphezulu kunazo zonke ezinye izikhulu. ₂Zonke izicaka zikakumkani apho esangweni zaguqa zakhahlela kuHaman ngokomyalelo kakumkani ngoHaman lowo. Kambe ke yena uModekayi zange aguqe akhahlele apho kuHaman.

₃Ke izicaka zikakumkani ezazilapho esangweni zabuza uModekayi zathi: “Ngani ukuba wena ungawuthobeli umyalelo kakumkani?” ₄Mihla le zazithetha naye ngale nto, kodwa yena engavumi ukuthobela loo myalelo. Ngoko zamxelela uHaman ngoModekayi lowo, zifuna ukuqonda ukuba sonyanyezelwa na eso simo sikaModekayi, njengoko wayezixelele ukuba yena ungumJuda.

₅UHaman akuqonda ukuba uModekayi akavumi ukuguqa akhahlele kuye, wasuka wanomsindo. ₆Kodwa wathi, akuluqonda uhlanga lukaModekayi, akayithanda into yokuba abulale uModekayi yedwa. Ngoko ke uHaman wazama indlela yokulutshabalalisa lonke uhlanga lukaModekayi – amaJuda – kubo bonke ubukumkani buka-Asuwerosi.

₇Kuthe ke kunyaka weshumi elinambini kakumkani uAsuwerosi, ngenyanga yokuqala uNisan, kwenziwa ipuri (liqashiso ke elo), kukhethwa usuku nenyanga. Elo qashiso ke laphuma nenyanga yeshumi elinambini uAdari.

₈UHaman wathetha nokumkani uAsuwerosi wathi: “Kukho uhlanga oluthe saa phakathi kwabantu bonke kuwo onke amaphondo ombuso wakho. Aba bantu bahleli bezikhethile kwabanye abantu. Amasiko abo ahlukile kuwo onke awabanye abantu, nemithetho kakumkani abayithobeli. Ngoko ke asinto intle ukuba ukumkani abanyamezele aba bantu. ₉Xa kukholekile kuwe, kumkani, makubhalwe phantsi batshatyalaliswe. Ke mna ndiza kukhupha iikhilogram zesiliva ezingaphezu kwamakhulu amathathu anamashumi amane amawaka, ndizinikezele ezandleni zabagcina oovimba bakomkhulu, ukuze zigcinwe kubo.”

₁₀Ngoko ke ukumkani wakhupha umsesane wakhe emnweni, wawunika uHaman unyana kaHamedata um-Agagi owayelutshaba lwamaJuda. ₁₁Ukumkani wathi kuHaman: “Yeyakho kaloku imali leyo; yenza ngokubona kwakho mayela nolu hlanga.”

₁₂Ke kaloku ngosuku lweshumi elinesithathu kwinyanga yokuqala babizwa oonobhala bakomkhulu. Basixelelwa isihlokomiso esasiphuma kuHaman, sisiya kwiirhuluneli zikakumkani, nabalawuli kunye nezikhulu zamaphondo awahlukeneyo abantu ngabantu. Kwathiwa mabasibhale kwangezo lwimi zahlukeneyo zeentlanga ngeentlanga. Ezi zaziso ke zabhalwa egameni likakumkani uAsuwerosi ngokwakhe, zaza zanyatheliswa ngomsesane wakhe. ₁₃Ezo ncwadi ke zanikezelwa kwizigidimi ezathunywa kuwo onke amaphondo ombuso kakumkani. Zaziyalela ukuba onke amaJuda, amadala kwanamanci, abafazi nabantwana, makabulawe atshatyalaliswe atshitshiswe ngamini-nye – umhla weshumi elinesithandathu kwinyanga yeshumi elinambini uAdare – ke zona iimpahla neento zawo zonke zithathwe zibe ngamaxhoba. ₁₄Ikopi yesi sihlokomiso ke yayiza kubekwa ibe ngumthetho kwiphondo ngalinye, ibhengezwe kubantu beentlanga ngeentlanga, khon' ukuze bahlale belulindele olo suku.

₁₅Ke kaloku yaba ngamaxhaphetshu, izigidimi zikakumkani zibhengeza eso sihlokomiso sasiphuma kukumkani komkhulu eSusa. Ke ukumkani noHaman bahlala phantsi basela, sabe sona isixeko esiyiSusa sididekile.

₁Ke kaloku akuyiva into ehlileyo uModekayi wazikrazula iimpahla awayezinxibile, wafaka ezirhwexayo, wazigalela ngothuthu, wangena esixekweni ehamba ebhomboloza kabuhlungu. ₂Wahamba wee xhaxhe ngamasango asebhotwe, kuba wayengavumelekanga ukungena khona umntu onxibe ezirhwexayo. ₃Kuwo onke amaphondo apho safikelela khona esi saziso somyalelo kakumkani amaJuda alila ezimathontsi, azila ukutya, atsho ngesingqala, enxibe ezirhwexayo, ezigalele ngothuthu.

₄Zithe ke iimpelesi zikaEstere ndawonye namaphakathi zakumxelela ngoModekayi wasuka wabandezeleka. Wathumelela uModekayi iimpahla zokunxiba, koko yena wasuka wazimangala. ₅Ke uEstere wathumela uHataki iphakathi likakumkani elalijongene naye ukuba liye kuqonda ukuba wayekhathazwe yintoni na uModekayi.

₆UHataki lowo ke waya apho kuModekayi ebaleni lesixeko phambi kwesango lakomkhulu. ₇UModekayi wamchubela konke okwakwenzekile, ndawonye nemali leyo yayiza kufakwa nguHaman koovimba bakomkhulu ukuze kutshatyalaliswe amaJuda. ₈Kananjalo ke wamnika nekopi yaloo mthetho wawuyalela ukutshatyalaliswa kwamaJuda, lowo wawubhengezwe eSusa, ukuze awubonise uEstere, amchazele konke, futhi ambongoze ukuba azame ukuya kubonana nokumkani, amcenge abe nebuya-mbo mayela nabantu bakowabo.

₉Ke uHataki wabuya wenza ingxelo kuEstere ngako konke okwakuthethwe nguModekayi. ₁₀UEstere ke wayalela uHataki ukuba athi kuModekayi: ₁₁“Onke amaphakathi kakumkani kunye nabantu bonke bezithili zakomkhulu bayazi ukuba xa indoda okanye umfazi engene phakathi kwibhotwe lokumkani, engakhange abe umenyiwe, umthetho kakumkani mnye qwaba: kukuba umntu lowo abulawe kuphele. Umntu onjalo usindiswa kukuba ukumkani asuke amkhombe ngentonga yakhe yolawulo yegolide. Kambe ke sezidlule iintsuku ezimashumi mathathu emva kokuba ndandikhe ndabizwa ngukumkani.”

₁₂Akuba uModekayi exelelwe ngamazwi kaEstere, ₁₃wabayalela ukuba bamphendule uEstere bathi: “Uze ungazikhohlisi ngokuthi kuba wena ulapho endlwini kakumkani, nguwe wedwa oya kusinda kumaJuda xa ewonke. ₁₄Kaloku xa uthe wathula wee cwaka ngeli thuba lentlekele, hleze luvele lona usindiso lwamaJuda, kodwa ke luthi gqi ngankalo yimbi, ube ke phofu wena nendlu kayihlo uza kutshabalala. Kambe ke, ngubani owaziyo, mhlawumbi wabekwa kwesi sikhundla sasebukhosini khon' ukuze ujongane namaxesha anje.”

₁₅Ke uEstere wathumela le mpendulo kuModekayi: ₁₆“Hamba uye kuwaqokelela onke amaJuda alapha kwesi sixeko saseSusa, xa ninonke nenze inzila ngenxa yam. Ze nithathe iintsuku ezintathu ningatyi ningaseli imini nobusuku. Nam ndikunye neempelesi zam siza kuzila kwenjengani. Yakuba yenzekile ke le nto, ndiza kuya kukumkani, nakuba nje ndisazi ukuba loo nto kukwaphula umthetho. Noko ke, ukuba ndifile, ndifile ke!”

₁₇Wemka ke uModekayi, waza wenza ngokwayo yonke loo miyalelo wayeyinikwe nguEstere.

₁Kuthe ke ngosuku lwesithathu uEstere wavatha ezobukhosi, wangena phakathi enkundleni yasebhotwe, wema phambi kwendlu kakumkani. Ukumkani wayengqendeve esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi apho kuloo ndlu, ejonge esangweni. ₂Uthe ke ukumkani, akubona uEstere emi apho enkundleni, waziva anelisekile akumjonga, waza ke wamkhomba ngentonga yakhe yolawulo yegolide awayeyiphethe. Wasondela ke uEstere, waza ke wachukumisa incam yaloo ntonga.

₃Ukumkani ke wathi kuye: “Ngaba ufuna ntoni, kumkanikazi Estere? Uze kucela ntoni? Nantoni na oyifunayo woyinikwa, kude kuthi xhaxhe ngesiqingatha sombuso wam.”

₄UEstere uphendule ngelithi: “Xa kukholekile kuwe, kumkani, ndicela ukuba wena ndawonye noHaman niye ethekweni endinilungiselele lona namhlanje.”

₅Ke ukumkani wathi: “Khawulezani nibize uHaman eze apha, ukuze senze ngokwesicelo sikaEstere.”

Ngoko ke ukumkani ekunye noHaman baya kwelo theko babelilungiselelwe nguEstere. ₆Xa basela iwayini ke ukumkani wabuza kuEstere wathi: “Khawutsho, sithini isicelo sakho? Loo nto uyicelayo woyinikwa. Ufuna ndikwenzele ntoni? Woyenzelwa nantoni na, kude kuthi xhaxhe ngesiqingatha sombuso wam.”

₇Ke uEstere uphendule ngelithi: “Nasi isicelo nesikhungo sam. ₈Ukuba ngenene ndamkelekile kukumkani, ezimisele ukwenza ngokwesicelo sam, ukumkani ndawonye noHaman ngomso mabeze kwitheko endibalungiselele lona. Ngelo thuba ke ndowuphendula lo mbuzo awubuzayo ukumkani.”

₉Ngaloo mini ke uHaman wagoduka echwayitile. Kambe ke uthe akubona uModekayi esangweni lokumkani, ephawula nokuba akakhange amkhathalele ashukume nokushukuma xa adlulayo kuye, suka wafutheka ngumsindo ngenxa yesimo sikaModekayi. ₁₀Kambe ke noko uHaman wabuya wazithibaza, wagoduka.

Apho ekhaya ke waqokelela izihlobo zakhe ndawonye nomkakhe uZereshi, ₁₁waza ke wabaqhayisela ngobutyebi bakhe nangoonyana abaninzi, ngokunjalo nangeendlela awayewongwe ngazo ngukumkani wada wamphakamisa kunazo zonke izikhulu namaphakathi akhe.

₁₂Waqhuba uHaman wathi: “Akuphelelanga kwezo zinto, nangoku ndim ndedwa umntu omenywe ngukumkanikazi uEstere ukuba aye nokumkani kwitheko alenzileyo. Ewe, kwakhona undimemele kwitheko aza kuba nalo nokumkani ngomso. ₁₃Kambe ke xa iyonke le nto ayindiniki konwaba ngakumbi nangakumbi xa ndisaphikele ukubona laa mJuda unguModekayi ehleli esangweni lakomkhulu.”

₁₄Umkakhe uZereshi ndawonye nazo zonke izihlobo zikaHaman bathi kuye: “Makwakhiwe umthi wokuxhoma uphakame ube ziimitha ezimashumi mabini anambini, uze ke ngomso ucele ukumkani amxhome apho uModekayi. Hamba ke uye ethekweni kunye nokumkani uchwayitile.”

Eli cebiso lamkholisa uHaman, waza ke wawenza loo mthi wokuxhoma.

₁Ke kaloku ngobo busuku ukumkani waphuthelwa, waza ke wathi makuziswe incwadi yeembali zeengcombolo zolawulo lwakhe. Yeziswa ke, yafundwa esiva ukumkani. ₂Apho kuyo ke kwafunyaniswa ukuba uModekayi wadiza iyelenqe likaBhigetan noTereshi amaphakathi okumkani awayefuna ukubulala ukumkani uAsuwerosi. La maphakathi ayengabalindi bamasango.

₃Ukumkani wabuza wathi: “Yeyiphi imbeko newonga uModekayi alenzelweyo ngenxa yesi senzo?”

Izicaka zikakumkani ezazimlungiselela zathi: “Zange enzelwe nto.”

₄Ukumkani ke wathi: “Ngubani okhoyo ngoku apha ebhotwe?” Ke uHaman wayesandula ukungena kwinkundla engaphandle yasebhotwe apho, eze kuthetha nokumkani mayela nokuxhonywa kukaModekayi kuloo mthi wayewulungiselele ukumxhoma kuwo.

₅Ke izicaka zikakumkani zathi kuye: “Nankuya uHaman emi enkundleni.”

Ukumkani wathi: “Mngeniseni.”

₆Akungena ke uHaman ukumkani wathi kuye: “Uthi makwenziwe ntoni ngomntu aziva efuna ukumwonga ukumkani?”

Ke uHaman wacinga ngaphakathi kwakhe wathi: “Ngubani omnye ongawongwa ngukumkani ngaphandle kwam?” ₇Ngoko ke uHaman waphendula ukumkani wathi: “Loo mntu afuna ukumwonga ukumkani ₈makanxitywe umnweba wobukhosi owakhe wanxitywa ngukumkani, aze akhweliswe ihashe elisetyenziswa ngukumkani, elo lihonjisiweyo lada labekwa imbasa yakomkhulu entloko. ₉Ke umnweba lowo nehashe elo malinikwe elinye lawona matshawe kakumkani aphambili. Mabamfake loo mnweba ke umntu afuna ukumwonga ukumkani, baze bamkhwelise kwelo hashe, bamkhokele ahamba-hambe kwizitalato zesixeko, bona bahambe bekhwaza besithi: ‘Nantsi ke into ayenzelwayo umntu athanda ukumwonga ukumkani!’ ”

₁₀Ukumkani ke wathi kuHaman: “Khawuleza uthathe umnweba lowo kunye nehashe elo, wenze ngaloo ndlela kuModekayi umJuda ohlala esangweni likakumkani. Uze ukwenze konke oko ukuthethileyo, ungashiyi nento le.”

₁₁Ngoko ke uHaman wawuthatha umnweba lowo nehashe elo, wamambathisa uModekayi, wamkhwelisa ehashini, wahamba phambi kwakhe, ekhwaza esithi: “Nantsi ke into ayenzelwayo umntu athanda ukumwonga ukumkani!”

₁₂Kamva ke uModekayi wabuyela esangweni kwakumkani apho. Ke yena uHaman wagoduka ethe nxokotho edanile. ₁₃Akufika ekhaya wabalisela umkakhe uZereshi kunye nezihlobo zakhe zonke ngako konke okwakumhlele ngaloo mini.

Ke abacebisi bakhe ndawonye nomkakhe uZereshi bathi kuye: “Ukuba ke lo mfo unguModekayi okuthobe kangaka engowohlanga lwamaJuda, akunako ukumelana naye – ngokuqinisekileyo wena uza kutshabalala!” ₁₄Bathe besathetha naye njalo agaleleka amaphakathi kakumkani, aza ke emka naye ngokukhawuleza uHaman, amsa kwelo theko lalilungiswe nguEstere.

₁Ngoko ke ukumkani kunye noHaman baya ethekweni likakumkanikazi uEstere. ₂Bathe ke besasela iwayini ngolo suku lwesibini, ukumkani waphinda wathi kuEstere: “Khawutsho, sithini na isicelo sakho, kumkanikazi Estere? Loo nto uyicelayo woyinikwa. Ucela ntoni ke? Woyenzelwa nantoni na, kude kuthi xhaxhe ngesiqingatha sombuso wam.”

₃Ke ukumkanikazi uEstere waphendula wathi: “Ukuba ndiyamkeleka kuwe, kumkani, ukuba kukholekile kuwe, ndincede usindise ubomi bam, uhlangule nabantu bakowethu, ndiyakucela. ₄Kaloku mna ndawonye nabantu bakowethu kuthengisiwe ngathi ukuze sitshatyalaliswe, sibulawe, sicinywe igama. Ukuba bekuthengiswe ngathi ukuba sibe ngamakhoboka namakhobokazana ngendithe cwaka, kuba bekungayi kubakho ntlungu ingako inyanzelisa ukuba kude kuphazanyiswane nomhlekazi.”

₅Ukumkani uAsuwerosi wabuza kukumkanikazi uEstere wathi: “Ngubani lowo? Uphi loo mntu ube nesibindi sokwenza into enjalo?”

₆UEstere wathi: “Lo mtshutshisi ulutshaba sesi sikhohlakali singuHaman.”

Ke uHaman warhwaqela apho phambi kokumkani nokumkanikazi. ₇Ukumkani wathi thwasu enomsindo, waphuma kwelo theko lewayini, wee gwiqi waya kutshona kumyezo wasebhotwe. Kambe ke uHaman waqonda ukuba ukumkani selenesigqibo ngesiphelo sakhe, ngoko ke yena wasala ecengana nokumkanikazi uEstere ngenxa yobomi bakhe.

₈Kanye xa abuyayo ukumkani apho kumyezo wasebhotwe, ebuyela apho esidlweni, yena uHaman kwakuxa aziphosa kwisofa abe ekuyo uEstere.

Ukumkani wakhuza wathi: “Yini le! Ngoku ude aphazamisane nokumkanikazi kanye ngoku ahleli nam endlwini!”

Lithe nje ukuba liphume elo lizwi emlonyeni kakumkani, basuka bamgquma ubuso uHaman. ₉Waza ke uHabhona, elinye lamaphakathi ajongene nokumkani, wathi: “Kambe ukhona umthi wokuxhoma phaya ngasendlwini kaHaman; uziimitha ezimashumi mabini anambini ukuphakama. Wakhiwe nguye, esenzela uModekayi lo wathethayo wamhlangula ukumkani.”

Ukumkani ke wathi: “Mxhomeni kuwo!” ₁₀Ngoko ke uHaman waxhonywa kuloo mthi wayewulungiselele uModekayi; ke wona umsindo kakumkani watsho wathotha.