U-Esteri 5:1-9

Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu, u-Esteri wagqoka ingubo yobundlovukazi, wema egcekeni lesigodlo senkosi elingaphakathi, eliqondene nendlu yenkosi. Inkosi yayihleli esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, iqondene nesango elingenela esigodlweni. Ithe ukuba inkosi ibone indlovukazi u-Esteri imi egcekeni, yaba nomusa kuyo. Yayikhomba ngentonga yegolide eyayiyiphethe ngesandla. U-Esteri waya kuyo, wathinta isihloko sentonga yobukhosi. Inkosi yathi kuye: “Kwenzenjani, ndlovukazi Esteri na? Ukhala ngani? Noma yini oyicelayo, ngisho kungaba yingxenye yombuso, uyoyinikwa.” U-Esteri wathi: “Uma kukuhle enkosini, mayize inkosi noHamani namuhla edilini engiyilungisele lona.” Inkosi yathi: “Phuthumani nibize uHamani ukuze sikwazi ukwenza lokho okucelwe ngu-Esteri.” Inkosi noHamani base beya edilini elalilungiswe ngu-Esteri. Besaphuza iwayini, inkosi yathi ku-Esteri: “Ucelani na? Uzoyenzelwa. Ukhala ngani? Ngisho ingxenye yombuso uyoyinikwa.” U-Esteri wayesephendula wathi: “Nasi isicelo sami nengikunxusayo: uma ngingathola umusa kuwe nkosi, ungenzele engikucelayo nengikunxusayo, makuthi inkosi noHamani beze kusasa edilini engizobe ngibalungisele lona, ngizobe sengenza njengokusho kwenkosi.” UHamani waphuma esigodlweni ejabule, umoya wakhe uthe cosololo ngalolo lusuku, kodwa kuthe lapho ebona uMoridekhayi esangweni lesigodlo, engamsukumeli noma athuthumele lapho embona, wagcwala intukuthelo, ethukuthelela uMoridekhayi