U-Esteri 4:10-16

U-Esteri watshela uHathakhi umyalezo okwakufanele ukuba awuse kuMoridekhayi, othi: “Zonke izikhulu zenkosi nalezo ezihlala ezifundazweni ziyazi ukuthi noma ngabe ngowesilisa noma ngowesifazane ongena egcekeni lenkosi elingaphakathi engabiziwe yiyo, ubhekana namthetho munye ofanayo wokuba abulawe, ngaphandle uma inkosi imkhombe ngentonga yayo yegolide, lowo angaphila. Kodwa mina ayingibizile inkosi kulezi zinsuku ezingama-30.” Bambikela uMoridekhayi ngokwakushiwo ngu-Esteri. Wayesebuyisela impendulo ngabo, ethi ku-Esteri: “Ungacabangi ukuthi ngoba wena usesigodlweni uzosinda kubo bonke abaJuda. Uma uthula ngesikhathi esifana nalesi, usizo nokukhululwa kwabaJuda kuzovela ndawana thize, kodwa wena nabendlu kayihlo nizobhubha. Ngubani owaziyo? Mhlawumbe ungene embusweni waba yindlovukazi ngenxa yesikhathi esifana nalesi.” U-Esteri wawuphendula umlayezo kaMoridekhayi, wathi: “Hamba uqoqe bonke abaJuda abahlala eShushani; nizile ngenxa yami, ningadli, ningaphuzi kuze kuphele izinsuku ezintathu, imini nobusuku. Mina nezintombi ezingisebenzelayo sizozila njengani; ngiyobe sengiya-ke enkosini noma kungukwephula umthetho lokho. Uma ngibhubha, mangibhubhe.”