To The Word – Day 133

₁Kwathi emihleni ka-Ahashiveroshi yena ungu-Ahashiveroshi lowo owabusa kusukela e-Indiya kuze kube seKushe phezu kwezifunda eziyikhulu namashumi amabili nesikhombisa ₂yebo, ngaleyo mihla lapho inkosi u-Ahashiveroshi ihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wayo, esasiseShushani endlini yenkosi, ₃ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kwayo, yenzela izikhulu zayo zonke nezinceku zayo idili, amaqhawe asePheresiya naseMediya, nabakhulu nezikhulu zezifunda bephambi kwayo, ₄lapho iyibonakalisa ingcebo yombuso wayo odumileyo, nobukhosi nobuhle bobukhulu bayo izinsuku eziningi, izinsuku eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili. ₅Seziphelile lezo zinsuku, inkosi yenzela abantu bonke ababe khona eShushani endlini yenkosi, abakhulu nabancane, idili izinsuku eziyisikhombisa egcekeni lensimu yendlu yenkosi. ₆Kwakukhona izilenge ezimhlophe neziluhlaza, ziboshelwe ngezintambo zelineni elicolekileyo nezibubende emasongweni esiliva nasezinsikeni zamatshe amhlophe; imibhede yayiyigolide nesiliva phezu kwendawo egandaywe ngamatshe abomvu, nangamaparele,* nangamatshe amnyama. ₇Baphuziswa ngezitsha zegolide, izitsha zahlukene, ezinye nezinye, iwayini lamakhosi eliningi njengokwesandla senkosi. ₈Ukuphuza kwaya ngomthetho wokuba kungacindezelwa muntu, ngokuba inkosi yayiyalile zonke izinduna zendlu yayo ukuba zenze njengokuthanda kwabantu abanye ngabanye.

₉Naye uVashiti, inkosikazi, wenzela abesifazane idili endlini yenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi.

₁₀Ngosuku lwesikhombisa, lapho inhliziyo yenkosi isithokoza ngewayini, yayala oMehumani, noBizitha, noHaribona, noBigitha, no-Abagitha, noZethari, noKarikasi, izinduna eziyisikhombisa ezazikhonza ebusweni buka-Ahashiveroshi inkosi ₁₁ukuba zimlethe uVashiti inkosikazi phambi kwenkosi, abe nomqhele wobukhosi ukuba abonise abantu nezikhulu ubuhle bakhe, ngokuba wayebukeka kahle. ₁₂Kepha inkosikazi uVashiti yenqaba ukuza ngesiyalezo senkosi ngesandla sezinduna; ngalokho inkosi yathukuthela kakhulu, ulaka lwayo lwashisa phakathi kwayo.

₁₃Yayisisho inkosi kwabahlakaniphileyo abazazi izikhathi ngokuba yayinendlela enjalo inkosi phambi kwabo bonke ababewazi umthetho nokwahlulela; ₁₄ababe seduze naye kwakungoKarishena, noShethari, no-Adimatha, noTharishishi, noMeresi, noMarisena, noMemukhani, izikhulu eziyisikhombisa zasePheresiya naseMediya ezaziphambi kobuso benkosi, zihlala emqoka embusweni ₁₅yathi: “Siyakwenze njani kuyo inkosikazi uVashiti njengomthetho, ngokuba ayenzanga izwi lenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi ngesandla sezinduna, na?”

₁₆UMemukhani wathi phambi kwenkosi nezikhulu: “UVashiti, inkosikazi, akonanga enkosini kuphela, kepha nakuzo zonke izikhulu nakubantu bonke abasezifundeni zenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi. ₁₇Ngokuba le ndaba yenkosikazi iyakuphumela kubo bonke abesifazane ukuba amadoda abo adeleleke emehlweni abo, lapho kuthiwa inkosi u-Ahashiveroshi yamyala uVashiti, inkosikazi, ukuba alethwe phambi kwayo, kepha akafikanga. ₁₈Namuhla amakhosikazi asePheresiya naseMediya ayizwile le ndaba yenkosikazi ayakukusho ezikhulwini zenkosi, kube ngukudelela nentukuthelo enkulu.

₁₉“Uma kukuhle enkosini, makuphume izwi lobukhosi, lilotshwe phakathi kwemithetho yamaPheresiya namaMede, lingalahlwa, lokuba uVashiti angabe esangena phambi kwenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi, inkosi inike omunye omuhle kunaye ubukhosikazi bakhe. ₂₀Lapho isimemezelo senkosi eyakusenza sesiyakuzwakala embusweni wayo wonke, ngokuba mkhulu bonke abafazi bayakuwahlonipha amadoda abo, amakhulu namancane.”

₂₁Laba lihle lelo zwi emehlweni enkosi nasezikhulwini; yenza-ke inkosi njengezwi likaMemukhani; ₂₂yathuma izincwadi ezifundeni zonke zenkosi, ezifundeni ngezifunda njengokubhala kwazo nasezizweni ngezizwe njengezilimi zazo ukuba yilowo nalowo muntu abuse endlini yakhe, akhulume ngolimi lwesizwe sakubo.

₁Emva kwalokho lapho ulaka lwenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi selubohlile, yamkhumbula uVashiti nalokho akwenzileyo, nalokho okumenyezelwe ngaye. ₂Zase zithi izinceku zenkosi ezaziyikhonza: “Inkosi mayifunelwe izintombi ezibukekayo, ₃inkosi imise ababonisi ezifundeni zonke zombuso wakho ukuba babuthele ndawonye zonke izintombi ezibukekayo eShushani endlini yenkosi endlini yabesifazane phansi kwesandla sikaHegayi induna yenkosi, umgcini wabesifazane, zinikwe izinto zazo zokuqhola. ₄Intombi enhle emehlweni enkosi mayibe yinkosikazi esikhundleni sikaVashiti.” Yaba nhle leyo nto emehlweni enkosi, yenze njalo.

₅Kwakukhona umuntu womJuda eShushani endlini yenkosi ogama lakhe lalinguMoridekayi kaJayire kaShimeyi kaKishi wakwaBenjamini, ₆owayethunjiwe eJerusalema kanye nabathunjwa ababethunjwe noJekoniya, inkosi yakwaJuda, owathunjwa nguNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele. ₇Wayelokhu emondla uHadasa ongu-Esteri, indodakazi kayisekazi, ngokuba wayengenayise, engenanina; intombi yayiyinhle, yayibukeka; sebefile uyise nonina, uMoridekayi wayithatha yaba yindodakazi yakhe.

₈Kwathi lapho izwi lenkosi nesimemezelo sayo sekuzwakele, nalapho izintombi eziningi zibuthene eShushani endlini yenkosi phansi kwesandla sikaHegayi, u-Esteri wangeniswa endlini yenkosi phansi kwesandla sikaHegayi, umgcini wabesifazane. ₉Intombi yayiyinhle emehlweni akhe, yafumana umusa kuye; washesha wayinika izinto zokuqhola, nezabelo zayo, nezintombi eziyisikhombisa ezazikhethelwe yona zivela endlini yenkosi, wayiyisa yona nezintombi zayo endaweni enhle yendlu yabesifazane.

₁₀Kepha u-Esteri wayengakhulumanga ngabantu bakubo nangezihlobo zakhe, ngokuba uMoridekayi wayeyiyalile ukuba ingakusho. ₁₁UMoridekayi wayehamba zonke izinsuku phambi kwegceke lendlu yabesifazane ukuba azi impilo ka-Esteri nokuthi kwenziwe njani kuye.

₁₂Lapho kufika isikhathi sezintombi ngezintombi sokuba zingene enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi emva kokuba kwenziwe kuzo njengomthetho wabesifazane izinyanga eziyishumi nambili ngokuba zagcwaliswa kanjalo izinsuku zokuqholwa kwazo, izinyanga eziyisithupha ngamafutha emure* nezinyanga eziyisithupha ngamakha nangezinto zokuqhola abesifazane ₁₃intombi yangena ngaleyo ndlela enkosini, nakho konke eyakushoyo yakunikwa ukuba iphume nakho endlini yabesifazane, iye endlini yenkosi. ₁₄Yangena khona kusihlwa; ekuseni yabuyela endlini yesibili yabesifazane phansi kwesandla sikaShahashigazi, induna yenkosi, umgcini wezancinza, ingaphindi ingene enkosini, uma inkosi ingathokozanga ngayo, ibizwe ngegama.

₁₅Lapho sesifikile isikhathi sika-Esteri, indodakazi ka-Abihayili, uyisekazi kaMoridekayi omthathe ukuba abe yindodakazi yakhe sokuba angene enkosini, akafunanga lutho, kuphela lokho akushoyo uHegayi induna yenkosi, umgcini wabesifazane. U-Esteri wafumana umusa emehlweni abo bonke abambonayo. ₁₆U-Esteri wayeseyiswa enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi endlini yakhe yobukhosi ngenyanga yeshumi, eyinyanga kaThebeti, ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kwayo.

₁₇Inkosi yamthanda u-Esteri phezu kwabo bonke abesifazane, wafumana umusa nesihe emehlweni ayo kunazo zonke izintombi, wamfaka umqhele wobukhosi, wamenza inkosikazi esikhundleni sikaVashiti. ₁₈Inkosi yayisizenzela zonke izikhulu zayo nezinceku zayo idili elikhulu, idili lika-Esteri, wanika izifunda ukuphumula, waphana ngezipho njengokupha kwenkosi.

₁₉Lapho izintombi sezibuthwa ngokwesibili, uMoridekayi wahlala esangweni lenkosi. ₂₀U-Esteri wayengakalandi lutho ngezihlobo zakhe nangabantu bakhe, njengalokho uMoridekayi amyala ngakho, ngokuba u-Esteri wenza okushiwo nguMoridekayi njengalapho esondliwa nguye.

₂₁Ngalezo zinsuku uMoridekayi esahlezi esangweni lenkosi, izinduna ezimbili zenkosi oBigithani noThereshi kubalindisango zazithukuthele, zafuna ukubeka izandla enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi. ₂₂Leyo ndaba yaziwa nguMoridekayi, wayitshela u-Esteri inkosikazi; u-Esteri wayisho enkosini egameni likaMoridekayi. ₂₃Lapho indaba iphenywa, kufunyanwa ukuthi injalo, zaphanyekwa zombili emthini; kwalotshwa encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla phambi kwenkosi.

₁Emva kwalezo zinto inkosi, u-Ahashiveroshi, yamenza mkhulu uHamani indodana kaHamedatha umAgagi, yamphakamisa, yamisa isihlalo sakhe phezu kwazo zonke izikhulu ezazinayo. ₂Zonke izinceku zenkosi ezazisesangweni lenkosi zakhothama, zakhuleka kuHamani, ngokuba inkosi iyale kanjalo ngaye. Kepha uMoridekayi akakhothamanga, kakhulekanga kuye.

₃Zase zithi izinceku zenkosi ezazisesangweni lenkosi kuMoridekayi: “Weqelani isiyalezo senkosi na?” ₄Kwathi zikhuluma kuye imihla ngemihla, engazilaleli, zamtshela uHamani ukuba zibone ukuthi amazwi kaMoridekayi ayakuma yini, ngokuba wayezitshelile ukuthi ungumJuda.

₅Lapho uHamani ebona ukuthi uMoridekayi akakhothamanga, kakhulekanga kuye, uHamani wagcwala ulaka. ₆Kwakudelelekile emehlweni akhe ukubeka izandla kuMoridekayi yedwa, ngokuba zase zimtshelile abantu bakaMoridekayi; ngalokho uHamani wafuna ukubulala bonke abaJuda ababe sembusweni wonke ka-Ahashiveroshi, isizwe sikaMoridekayi.

₇Ngenyanga yokuqala eyinyanga kaNisani ngomnyaka weshumi nambili wenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi benza iPhure eliyinkatho phambi kukaHamani imihla ngemihla izinyanga ngezinyanga, kwaze kwaba ngeyeshumi nambili eyinyanga ka-Adari.

₈UHamani wathi enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi: “Kukhona isizwe esithile esihlakazekile, sisakazekile phakathi kwabantu bezifunda zonke zombuso wakho; nemithetho yaso yahlukene neyezizwe zonke; futhi asigcini imithetho yenkosi; ngalokho akufanele ukuba inkosi isiyeke. ₉Uma kukuhle enkosini, makulotshwe ukuba sichithwe; ngiyakukhokhela amatalenta* ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi esiliva ezandleni zabenza umsebenzi wenkosi, ayiswe esikhwameni senkosi.”

₁₀Inkosi yakhumula indandatho yayo esandleni sayo, yayinika uHamani indodana kaHamedatha umAgagi isitha sabaJuda. ₁₁Inkosi yathi kuHamani: “Isiliva liyanikwa wena, nesizwe futhi, ukuba wenze kuso okuhle emehlweni akho.”

₁₂Kwase kubizwa abalobi benkosi ngenyanga yokuqala ngosuku lweshumi nantathu lwayo, kwalotshwa njengakho konke uHamani ayala angakho othulasizwe benkosi, nababusi ababephethe izifunda ngezifunda, nezikhulu zezizwe ngezizwe, izifunda ngezifunda njengokubhala kwazo, nezizwe ngezizwe njengolimi lwazo; kwalotshwa egameni lenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi, kwanamathiselwa ngendandatho yenkosi. ₁₃Izincwadi zathunywa ngesandla sezigijimi ezifundeni zonke zenkosi ukuba kuchithwe, kubulawe, kubhujiswe abaJuda bonke, abasha nabadala, izingane nabesifazane, ngalusuku lunye, ngolweshumi nantathu lwenyanga yeshumi nambili eyinyanga ka-Adari, impahla yabo ibe yimpango. ₁₄Impinda yokulotshiweyo yanikwa ukuba ibe yisimemezelo ezifundeni zonke, kumenyezelwe kubantu bonke ukuba bazilungiselele lolo suku.

₁₅Izigijimi zashesha zahamba ngezwi lenkosi. Umthetho washaywa eShushani endlini yenkosi; inkosi noHamani bahlala phansi, baphuza, kepha umuzi waseShushani wakhungatheka.

₁UMoridekayi esekwazi konke okwenziweyo, uMoridekayi waziklebhula izingubo zakhe, wembatha indwangu yamasaka nomlotha, waphumela phakathi komuzi, wakhala ngokukhala okukhulu okumunyu; ₂waya naphambi kwesango lenkosi, ngokuba kwakungekho ongangena esangweni lenkosi embethe indwangu yamasaka. ₃Kuzo zonke izifunda lapho kwafika khona izwi lenkosi nomthetho wayo, kwaba khona ukulila okukhulu phakathi kwabaJuda, nokuzila ukudla nokukhala ngezinyembezi, nokulila; abaningi balala phansi bembethe izindwangu zamasaka nomlotha.

₄Izintombi zika-Esteri nezinduna zakhe zafika zamtshela lokho; inkosikazi yazwiswa kakhulu ubuhlungu; yathuma izingubo zokumembathisa uMoridekayi, yasusa kuye ingubo yakhe yamasaka; kepha akazamukelanga. ₅U-Esteri wayesebiza uHathaki wezinduna zenkosi eyayimmisile ukuba amkhonze, wamyala ukuba aye kuMoridekayi, ukuze akwazi ukuthi kuyini nokuthi kungani na?

₆UHathaki wayesehamba, waya kuMoridekayi esigcawini somuzi esasiphambi kwesango lenkosi. ₇UMoridekayi wamtshela konke okumehleleyo nenani lemali uHamani ayethembisile ukulikhokhela esikhwameni senkosi ngabaJuda ukuba babhujiswe. ₈Wamnika futhi impinda yomthetho olotshiweyo owashaywa eShushani wokuba babhujiswe, ukuze amtshengise yona u-Esteri, amtshele ngayo, amyale ukuba angene enkosini ukunxusa kuyo, acelele abantu bakhe phambi kwayo.

₉Wafika uHathaki, wamtshela u-Esteri amazwi kaMoridekayi. ₁₀Wayesethi u-Esteri kuHathaki, wayala ukuba kuthiwe kuMoridekayi: ₁₁Zonke izinceku zenkosi nabantu bezifunda zenkosi bayazi ukuthi bonke abesilisa nabesifazane abeza enkosini egcekeni elingaphakathi bengabizwanga, kukhona umthetho munye ngabo wokuba babulawe, ngaphandle kwalowo inkosi eyakwelulela kuye intonga yegolide ukuba aphile; kodwa mina angibizwanga ukuba ngingene enkosini ngalezi zinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu.

₁₂Bamtshela uMoridekayi amazwi ka-Esteri. ₁₃Wayesesho uMoridekayi ukuba babuyisele impendulo ku-Esteri ngokuthi: “Ungacabangi enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi wena uyakusinda endlini yenkosi kunabaJuda bonke. ₁₄Ngokuba uma uthula nokuthula ngalesi sikhathi, ukukhululwa nokophulwa kwabaJuda kuyakuvela kwenye indawo, wena nendlu kayihlo nibhubhe. Ngubani okwaziyo, uma ungafikanga embusweni ngenxa yesikhathi esinjengalesi na?”

₁₅U-Esteri wayesesho ukuba kubuyiselwe impendulo kuMoridekayi yokuthi: ₁₆“Hambani nibuthe bonke abaJuda abakhona eShushani, ningizilele ukudla, ningadli, ningaphuzi izinsuku ezintathu ubusuku nemini; nami nezintombi zami siyakuzila kanjalo, ngingene enkosini noma kungengamthetho; uma ngibhubha, mangibhubhe.”

₁₇Wayesehamba uMoridekayi, wenza njengakho konke u-Esteri amyale ngakho.

₁Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu u-Esteri wembatha ingubo yobukhosi, wema egcekeni elingaphakathi lendlu yenkosi malungana nendlu yenkosi; inkosi yayihlezi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi endlini yobukhosi malungana nomnyango wendlu. ₂Kwathi lapho inkosi ibona u-Esteri inkosikazi emi egcekeni, wafumana umusa emehlweni ayo; inkosi yamelulela u-Esteri intonga yegolide esesandleni sayo. Wayesesondela u-Esteri, wasithinta isihloko sentonga.

₃Yayisithi inkosi kuye: “Ukhala ngani, nkosikazi Esteri, na? Yini oyifunayo na? Uyakunikwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.”

₄Wathi u-Esteri: “Uma kukuhle enkosini, inkosi noHamani mabeze namuhla edilini engiyilungisele lona.”

₅Yathi inkosi: “Msheshiseni uHamani ukuba kwenziwe njengezwi lika-Esteri.” Base beya inkosi noHamani edilini alilungisileyo u-Esteri. ₆Inkosi yathi ku-Esteri ngasedilini lewayini: “Isicelo sakho siyini na? Uyakusenzelwa. Yini oyifunayo na? Kuyakwenziwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.”

₇Wayesephendula u-Esteri, ethi: “Isicelo sami nengikufunayo nakhu: ₈Uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni enkosi noma kukuhle enkosini ukunginika lokho engikucelayo nokwenza lokho engikufunayo, makuze inkosi noHamani edilini engiyakubalungisela lona; ngiyakwenza kusasa njengezwi lenkosi.”

₉UHamani waphuma khona ngalolo suku, ethokoza enenhliziyo enhle; kepha lapho uHamani embona uMoridekayi esangweni lenkosi ukuthi akasukumanga, kanyakazanga ngaye, uHamani wagcwala ulaka ngoMoridekayi. ₁₀Kepha uHamani wazibamba, waya ekhaya; wayesethuma, walanda abangane bakhe noZereshi umkakhe. ₁₁UHamani wabalandisa udumo lwengcebo yakhe, nobuningi babantwana bakhe, nakho konke inkosi emkhulisile kukho, nalokho emphakamisile kukho phezu kwezikhulu nezinceku zenkosi. ₁₂UHamani wathi futhi: “U-Esteri, inkosikazi, akangenisanga muntu kanye nenkosi edilini alilungisileyo ngaphandle kwami; nakusasa mina ngimenyiwe nguye kanye nenkosi. ₁₃Kepha konke lokho akunganelisi ngalutho kuso sonke isikhathi engilokhu ngibona ngaso uMoridekayi, umJuda, ehlezi esangweni lenkosi.”

₁₄Wayesethi uZereshi umkakhe nabo bonke abangane bakhe kuye: “Yenza umuthi, ukuphakama kwawo kube yizingalo ezingamashumi ayisihlanu, ukhulume ekuseni enkosini ukuba uMoridekayi aphanyekwe kuwo, besewungena ngokuthokoza kanye nenkosi edilini.” Laba lihle lelo zwi kuHamani, wenza umuthi.

₁Ngalobo busuku ubuthongo babaleka enkosini, yayala ukuba kulethwe incwadi yezikhumbuzo zezindaba zemihla ngemihla, zafundwa phambi kwenkosi. ₂Kwafumaniseka kulotshiwe ukuthi uMoridekayi wayelandile ngoBigithani noThereshi izinduna ezimbili zenkosi, abalindisango, ukuthi babefunile ukubeka isandla enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi.

₃Inkosi yathi: “Ludumo luni nobukhulu buni okwenzelwe uMoridekayi ngalokho na?”

Zase zithi izinceku zenkosi ezaziyikhonza: “Akenzelwanga lutho.”

₄Yayisithi inkosi: “Ngubani osegcekeni na?” UHamani wayesand'ukungena nje egcekeni elingaphandle lendlu yenkosi ukuba akhulume enkosini ngokuphanyekwa kukaMoridekayi emthini abemlungisele wona.

₅Zathi-ke izinceku zenkosi kuyo: “Bheka, uHamani umi egcekeni.”

Yathi inkosi: “Makangene.”

₆Yayisithi inkosi kuye: “Umuntu inkosi ethanda ukumdumisa wenzelwani na?”

UHamani wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Ngubani inkosi ebiyakuthanda ukumenzela udumo ngaphandle kwami na?” ₇Wayesethi enkosini: “Umuntu inkosi ethanda ukumenzela udumo ₈makalethelwe isambatho sobukhosi ekade isembethe inkosi, kanye nehhashi inkosi ekade ikhwela kulo nelifakwe enhloko yalo umqhele wobukhosi; ₉isambatho nehhashi makunikezwe esandleni sesinye sezikhulu ezidumileyo ukuba zimembathise lowo muntu inkosi ethanda ukumdumisa, zimkhwelise ehhashini esigcawini somuzi, zimemeze phambi kwakhe ngokuthi: ‘Uyakwenzelwa kanjalo umuntu inkosi ethanda ukumdumisa.’ ”

₁₀Yayisithi inkosi kuHamani: “Shesha, uthathe isambatho nehhashi njengokusho kwakho, wenze njalo kuMoridekayi, umJuda, ohlezi esangweni lenkosi. Makungaphuthi lutho lwakho konke okukhulumileyo.”

₁₁UHamani wathatha-ke isambatho nehhashi, wamembathisa uMoridekayi, wamkhwelisa esigcawini somuzi, wamemeza phambi kwakhe ngokuthi: “Uyakwenzelwa kanjalo umuntu inkosi ethanda ukumdumisa.”

₁₂UMoridekayi wabuyela esangweni, kepha uHamani waphuthuma ekhaya ekhala, embozile ikhanda. ₁₃UHamani walandisa uZereshi umkakhe nabo bonke abangane bakhe konke okumehleleyo. Zase zithi kuye izihlakaniphi zakhe noZereshi umkakhe: “Uma uMoridekayi oqale ukuwa phambi kwakhe engowenzalo yabaJuda, awuyikumahlula, kepha uyakuwa nokuwa phambi kwakhe.” ₁₄Besakhuluma naye, zafika izinduna zenkosi, zashesha ukumyisa uHamani edilini u-Esteri alilungisileyo.

₁Yafika-ke inkosi noHamani edilini lika-Esteri inkosikazi. ₂Inkosi yabuye yathi ku-Esteri ngosuku lwesibili lwedili lewayini: “Isicelo sakho siyini, nkosikazi Esteri, na? Uyakusenzelwa. Yini oyifunayo na? Kuyakwenziwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.”

₃Wayesephendula u-Esteri inkosikazi, ethi: “Uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni akho, nkosi, noma kukuhle enkosini, mangiphiwe ukuphila kwami ngesicelo sami nokwesizwe sakithi ngokufuna kwami, ₄ngokuba kuthengisiwe ngathi, mina nesizwe sakithi, ukuba sichithwe, sibulawe, sibhubhe. Uma bekuthengisiwe ngathi sibe yizigqila nezigqilakazi kuphela, ngabe ngithulile, ngokuba usizi lwethu alwanele ukuba sisinde inkosi.”

₅Yayisisho inkosi u-Ahashiveroshi, ithi ku-Esteri inkosikazi: “Ngubani lo, uphi yena onesibindi sokwenza lokho na?”

₆U-Esteri wathi: “Ngumuntu omelene nathi, oyisitha, uHamani lo omubi.” UHamani wayeseshaywa luvalo phambi kwenkosi nenkosikazi. ₇Yayisisukuma inkosi ngolaka lwayo edilini lewayini, yaya ensimini yendlu yenkosi; uHamani wasukuma ukunxusa u-Esteri inkosikazi ngokuphila kwakhe, ngokuba wabona ukuthi usenqunyelwe okubi yinkosi.

₈Inkosi isibuya ensimini yendlu yenkosi, ingene endlini yedili lewayini, uHamani wayesewele embhedeni u-Esteri ayekuwo. Yayisithi inkosi: “Uyakuyiphoqa inkosikazi phambi kwami lapha endlini na?” Lapho liphuma leli zwi emlonyeni wenkosi, bamboza ubuso bukaHamani. ₉Wayesethi uHaribona, enye yezinduna ezaziphambi kwenkosi: “Bheka, umuthi okuphakama kwawo kuyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisihlanu, uHamani ayewenzele uMoridekayi owakhuluma kahle ngenkosi, umi endlini kaHamani.”

Inkosi yathi: “Mphanyekeni kuwo.” ₁₀Base bemphanyeka-ke uHamani emthini ayewulungisele uMoridekayi. Yayisibohla intukuthelo yenkosi.