U-Esteri 3:1-11

Emveni kwalezo zinto, inkosi u-Ahasheveroshi yaqokela esikhundleni esiphezulu uHamani, indodana kaHamedatha, umAgagi, yamenza umengameli wazo zonke izikhulu ezikanye naye. Zonke izikhulu zenkosi ezazisesangweni layo zaziguqa, zikhothamele uHamani njengokusho kwenkosi. UMoridekhayi nokho akazange amguqele noma amkhothamele uHamani. Izikhulu zenkosi ezazisesangweni zambuza uMoridekhayi, zathi: “Kungani weqa umyalo wenkosi na?” Nanxa zazikhuluma naye nsuku zonke zimbuza, uMoridekhayi akazange azilalele. Zase zihamba zayotshela uHamani ukuze zizwe ukuthi uMoridekhayi uzoma yini emazwini akhe okuthi ungumJuda. UHamani ebona ukuthi uMoridekhayi akamguqeli, futhi akamkhothameli, wacasuka kakhulu. Wakubona kungenele ukuthi enzakalise uMoridekhayi kuphela, ngoba wayesezwile ukuthi ungumJuda, wenza icebo lokubulala bonke abaJuda, abantu bakubo kaMoridekhayi ababehlala embusweni ka-Ahasheveroshi. Ngenyanga yokuqala, inyanga uNisani, ngonyaka we-12 wokubusa kuka-Ahasheveroshi, benza iPhure (unkatho) phambi kukaHamani, imihla ngemihla, nyanga zonke, ukuze abone ukuthi isu lakhe liyolunga, liphumelele ngayiphi inyanga nangaluphi usuku. Waqoka ukuba lokho kwenziwe ngenyanga ye-12, inyanga u-Adari. UHamani wayesethi enkosini u-Ahasheveroshi: “Kukhona isizwe esithile esihlakazakele kuzo zonke izifundazwe zombuso wakho, sinemithetho eyehlukile kweyezizwe zonke. Siyishaya indiva imithetho yombuso wakho. Akulungile ukuba inkosi isiyeke siqhubeke. Uma kukuhle enkosini, makulotshwe ukuba sibhujiswe, mina ngizokhokha amathalenta ayizi-10 000 esiliva kulabo abenza umsebenzi wenkosi, ukuze afakwe engcebeni yenkosi.” Inkosi yase ikhipha indandatho yokusicilela emunweni wayo, yayinika uHamani, indodana kaHamedatha, umAgagi, isitha sabaJuda. Yathi kuHamani: “Isiliva ngelakho nabantu, yenza ngakho njengoba ubona kufanele.”