Esteri 2:10-18

U-Esteri akabatshelanga abantu bakubo nomndeni wakubo, ngoba uMoridegayi wayemyalile ukuba angasho. UMoridegayi wayehamba zonke izinsuku phambi kwegceke lendlu yabesifazane ukuze azi ukuthi u-Esteri unjani nokuthi kuzokwenzekani kuye. Lapho incekukazi ngayinye ingena ngokudedelana ukungena enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi, isinezinyanga eziyishumi nambili njengomthetho wabesifazane, ngokuba zaphelela kanjalo izinsuku zokuhlanjululwa kwabo, izinyanga eziyisithupha ngamafutha emure, nezinyanga eziyisithupha. Ngephunga elimnandi, nezinye izinto zokuhlanzwa kwabesifazane; Zase zifika zonke izintombi enkosini kanje; konke ayekufuna wanikwa ukuthi ahambe laye endlini yabesifazana ukuya endlini yenkosi. Yahamba kusihlwa, ngangomuso yabuyela endlini yesibili yabesifazane, phansi kwesandla sikaSheshahasi, induna yenkosi, egada izancinza; nokuthi wayeshiwo ngegama. Lapho kufika ithuba lika-Esteri, indodakazi ka-Abihayili, uyisekazi kaMoridekayi, owamthatha ukuba abe indodakazi yakhe, wangena enkosini, akafunanga lutho ngaphandle kwalokho uHegayi, inceku yenkosi, umlindi wenkosi. Abesifazane, abamisiwe. U-Esteri wazuza umusa emehlweni abo bonke abambonayo. Ngakho u-Esteri wayiswa enkosini u-Ahashiveroshi endlini yayo yobukhosi ngenyanga yeshumi, eyinyanga kaThebeti, ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kwayo. Inkosi yamthanda u-Esteri ngaphezu kwabo bonke abesifazane, wathola umusa nesihe emehlweni ayo ngaphezu kwazo zonke izintombi; wayesemthwesa umqhele wobukhosi, wamenza indlovukazi esikhundleni sikaVashiti. Inkosi yayisilungisela zonke izikhulu zayo nezinceku zayo idili elikhulu, idili lika-Esteri; wakhulula izifunda, wapha izipho ngokomthetho wenkosi.