8 UHamani wasetshela iNkosi u-Ahasuweru wathi: “Kulabantu abagcwele yonke indawo kuzo zonke izabelo zombuso wakho+ njalo basabalele phakathi kwabantu.+ Imithetho yabo itshiyene leyabanye abantu futhi abayilaleli imithetho yenkosi. Nxa inkosi ingabayekela benjalo, izinto zingonakala.

10 Inkosi yathi ikuzwa lokhu yahle yakhipha indandatho yayo elophawu+ esandleni, yayiqhubela uHamani+ indodana kaHamedatha, um-Agagi,+ owayeyisitha samaJuda.

4 Mina labantu bakithi sithengisiwe+ ukuthi sitshaywe sibhuqwe, sibulawe futhi sitshabalaliswe siphele nya.+ Aluba besithengiselwe ukuba yizigqili lezigqilikazi bengizazithulela. Kodwa uhlupho lolu akumelanga luyekelwe ngoba luzaphambanisa lenkosi.”

5 INkosi u-Ahasuweru yaphendula iNdlovukazi u-Esta yathi: “Ngubani okwenzileyo lokho? Ngubani lowomuntu olesibindi sokwenza into enjalo?” 6 U-Esta wathi: “Umuntu oyisitha njalo ololunya nguyenalo uHamani olomoya omubi.”

UHamani waqhuqha waba ngumhlanga esesaba inkosi lendlovukazi.