Esta 7:1-10
7 Nje-ke ikosi noHamani+ bafika esidlweni seNdlovukazi u-Esta.
2 Godu ikosi yabuza u-Esta ngelanga lesibili nasele basela iwayini, yathi: “Ulila ngani, Ndlovukazi Esta? Uzokunikelwa okufunako. Ufuna ngikwenzeleni? Ngitjho nanyana ungabawa ingcenye yombuswami, uzokunikelwa yona!”+
3 INdlovukazi u-Esta yaphendula yathi: “Nange ngifumene umusa kuwe, kosi, begodu nangabe kuyayithabisa ikosi, ngibawa ingiphe ukuphila kwami isindise nesitjhaba sekhethu.+
4 Ngombana mina nabantu bekhethu sithengisiwe+ bona sibulawe, sirhayilwe besitjhatjalaliswe.+ Ngathana besithengiselwe bona sibe ziingqila neengqilakazi bengizakuthula. Kodwana ihlekelele le ayikalungi, ngombana izokubangela umonakalo ekosini.”
5 IKosi u-Arhatjhiverotjhi yathi eNdlovukazini u-Esta: “Ngubani loyo, begodu uphi umuntu obe nesibindi sokwenza into enje?”
6 U-Esta wathi: “Umphikisi nenaba lethu nguHamani okhohlakeleko lo.”
UHamani wasaba khulu ngebanga lekosi nendlovukazi.
7 Ikosi isilingeke khulu, yasikima ekuseleni iwayini yatjhinga esivandeni sesigodlo, kodwana uHamani wasikima ayokuncengela ukuphila kwakhe eNdlovukazini u-Esta, ngombana walemuka ukuthi ikosi izimisele ukumjezisa.
8 Ikosi yasuka esivandeni sesigodlo yabuyela ngendlini okuselelwa kiyo iwayini, yabona uHamani aziphosele esihlalweni u-Esta ahlezi kiso. Ikosi yakhuza yathi: “Afeke, sekafuna nokukata indlovukazi ngendlinami!” Ikosi ingakaliginyi lelo, bagubuzesa ubuso bakaHamani.
9 URharibhona,+ omunye weenkhulu zekosi, wathi: “UHamani wenze nesigodo sokuphanyeka uMoridekayi,+ loyo umbikwakhe owasindisa ikosi.+ Isigodweso sijame emzini kaHamani begodu simakhubhithi ama-50* ubude.” Nayizwa lokho ikosi yathi: “Mphanyekeni kiso.”
10 Nje-ke baphanyeka uHamani esigodweni ebekasenzele uMoridekayi, ngokunjalo-ke ilaka lekosi larhobha.
Imitlolo Ephasi
^ Angaba mamitha ayi-22.3. Qala Isith. B14.
