U-Esteri 7:1-10
7 Ngakho inkosi noHamani + bangena edilini leNdlovukazi u-Esteri.
2 Inkosi yaphinde yathi ku-Esteri ngosuku lwesibili phakathi nedili lewayini: “Ukhala ngani, Esteri ndlovukazi? Uzonikwa kona. Siyini isicelo sakho? Ngisho noma kungaba uhhafu wombuso wami, uzonikwa wona!” +
3 INdlovukazi u-Esteri yaphendula: “O nkosi, uma ngithole umusa kuwe, futhi uma kukuhle enkosini, manginikwe ukuphila* kwami njengokunxusa kwami nabantu bakithi njengesicelo sami. +
4 Ngoba sithengisiwe, + mina nabantu bakithi, ukuba siqothulwe, sibulawe futhi sibhujiswe. + Ukube besimane sathengiswa ukuba sibe yizigqila zabesilisa nabesifazane, bengizothula. Kodwa lolu sizi alufaneleki ngoba luzodalela inkosi umonakalo.”
5 INkosi u-Ahashiveroshi yabe isithi eNdlovukazini u-Esteri: “Ubani lowo, futhi uphi lowo muntu oqunge isibindi sokwenza into enjalo?”
6 U-Esteri wathi: “Umphikisi nesitha yilo Hamani okhohlakele.”
UHamani wethuka kakhulu ngenxa yenkosi nendlovukazi.
7 Inkosi yasukuma edilini lewayini ithukuthele ingqangqa* yaya engadini yesigodlo, kodwa uHamani wasukuma wancenga iNdlovukazi u-Esteri ukuba isindise ukuphila* kwakhe ngoba wabona ukuthi inkosi izimisele ukumjezisa.
8 Inkosi yabuya engadini yesigodlo yabuyela endlini yedili lewayini, yabona ukuthi uHamani wayeseziphonse phezu kukasofa u-Esteri ayekuwo. Inkosi yababaza: “Ingabe uzodlwengula indlovukazi endlini yami?” Ngemva nje kokuba inkosi isho la mazwi, babumboza ubuso bukaHamani.
9 UHaribona, + esinye sezikhulu zegceke zenkosi, wabe esethi: “UHamani uphinde walungisela uMoridekayi isigxobo, + lowo umbiko wakhe owasindisa inkosi. + Simi endlini kaHamani, singamamitha angaba ngu-22,3* ukuphakama.” Inkosi yathi: “Mlengiseni kuso.”
10 Ngakho bamlengisa uHamani esigxotsheni ayesilungisele uMoridekayi, ulaka lwenkosi lwabohla.
Imibhalo yaphansi
^ Noma, “umphefumulo.”
^ Noma, “ithukuthele kakhulu.”
^ Noma, “umphefumulo.”
^ Siyizingalo ezingu-50. Bheka iSithasiselo B14.
