U-Esta

7 Ngakho inkosi loHamani+ baya edilini elalenziwe yiNdlovukazi u-Esta. 2 Ngelanga lesibili belokhu besedilini lewayini, inkosi yaphinda yathi ku-Esta: “Tshono okufunayo Ndlovukazi Esta, uzakuphiwa! Kuyini okucelayo? Lanxa kungaba yingxenye yombuso wami, uzakuphiwa okucelayo!”+ 3 INdlovukazi u-Esta yaphendula yathi: “Nxa ngithole umusa kuwe nkosi njalo nxa kuyithokozisa inkosi, engikufunayo lengikucelayo yikuthi mina labantu bakithi+ siqhubeke siphila. 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. 7 Inkosi yathi lothu isivutha ngolaka, yaphuma edilini yaya esivandeni sesigodlo kodwa uHamani yena wasukuma waqalisa ukuncenga u-Esta ukuze angabulawa ngoba wananzelela ukuthi inkosi yayisizimisele ukumjezisa. 8 Inkosi yasiphenduka ivela esivandeni sesigodlo yathi ingena endlini okwakusenzelwa kuyo idili lewayini yathola uHamani esezijikele esofeni lapho okwakulo-Esta khona. Inkosi yakhwaza yathi: “Hawu, usefuna lokubamba indlovukazi iganyavu endlini yami?” Amazwi la athi ephuma nje emlonyeni wenkosi, uHamani bahle bamvala ubuso. 9 UHaribhona+ omunye weziphathamandla zesikhosini wasesithi: “UHamani umise logodo lokulengisa uModekhayi,+ yena owaletha umbiko owasindisa inkosi.+ Ugodo lolo lusemzini wakhe njalo luzingalo ezingu-50* ubude.” Inkosi yathi ikuzwa lokhu yathi: “Mlengiseni kulo.” 10 Ngakho bamthatha uHamani bayamlengisa esigodweni ayesilungisele uModekhayi, ulaka lwenkosi lwehla.