U-Esteri 5:1-9

Kwathi 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. Kwathi 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. Yayisithi inkosi kuye: “Ukhala ngani, nkosikazi Esteri, na? Yini oyifunayo na? Uyakunikwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.” Wathi u-Esteri: “Uma kukuhle enkosini, inkosi noHamani mabeze namuhla edilini engiyilungisele lona.” Yathi inkosi: “Msheshiseni uHamani ukuba kwenziwe njengezwi lika-Esteri.” Base beya inkosi noHamani edilini alilungisileyo u-Esteri. Inkosi yathi ku-Esteri ngasedilini lewayini: “Isicelo sakho siyini na? Uyakusenzelwa. Yini oyifunayo na? Kuyakwenziwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.” Wayesephendula u-Esteri, ethi: “Isicelo sami nengikufunayo nakhu: Uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni enkosi noma kukuhle enkosini ukunginika lokho engikucelayo nokwenza lokho engikufunayo, makuze inkosi noHamani edilini engiyakubalungisela lona; ngiyakwenza kusasa njengezwi lenkosi.” UHamani waphuma khona ngalolo suku, ethokoza enenhliziyo enhle; kepha lapho uHamani embona uMoridekayi esangweni lenkosi ukuthi akasukumanga, kanyakazanga ngaye, uHamani wagcwala ulaka ngoMoridekayi.