U-Esta
4 UModekhayi+ wathi ekuzwa konke okwasekwenzakele,+ wadabula izigqoko zakhe wagqoka isembatho sesaka njalo wazithela ngomlotha. Wasedabula phakathi kwedolobho ehlaba umkhosi, ekhala kabuhlungu. 2 Wahamba waze wayafika esangweni lenkosi kodwa kangenanga ngoba kwakungavunyelwa ukuthi umuntu angene khona egqoke isembatho sesaka. 3 Kuzo zonke izabelo+ lapho okwafika khona ilizwi lenkosi lomthetho wayo, amaJuda ayeqhinqa isililo, ezila ukudla,+ ekhala ezimathonsi njalo ehlaba umkhosi. Amanengi ayelele emasakeni futhi ezibhuqa emlotheni.+ 4 Izincekukazi zika-Esta labathenwa bakhe bafika bamtshela okwakusenzakala. Indlovukazi yakhathazeka kakhulu yasithumela uModekhayi izigqoko ukuze akhiphe isembatho sesaka kodwa yena kazamukelanga. 5 U-Esta wasebiza uHathakhi omunye wabathenwa owayekhethwe yinkosi ukuthi asebenzele indlovukazi, wamthuma ukuthi aye kuModekhayi ayezwisisa ukuthi kuhamba njani lokuthi kutshoni lokhu.
6 Ngakho uHathakhi wasuka waya kuModekhayi egcekeni ledolobho phambi kwegedi lenkosi. 7 UModekhayi wasemlandisela konke okwakwenzakale kuye langemali+ uHamani ayethembise ukuthi uzayibhadala ingene enothweni yesigodlweni ukuze amaJuda abulawe.+ 8 Wasemnika lencwadi eyayibhalwe umthetho owawumenyezelwe eShushani*+ mayelana lokubhujiswa kwabo. Kwakumele ayeyitshengisa u-Esta njalo amchasisele ekutshoyo, amtshele+ lokuthi aye enkosini ayecela ukuthi ibe lesihawu kubo njalo ancengele abantu bakibo.
9 UHathakhi wasehamba wayabikela u-Esta konke ayekutshelwe nguModekhayi. 10 U-Esta wasesithi uHathakhi kabuyele kuModekhayi+ ayemtshela amazwi la: 11 “Zonke izinceku zenkosi labantu abasezabelweni zayo bakwazi mhlophe ukuthi loba yiphi indoda loba owesifazana ofika egumeni lenkosi elingaphakathi+ engabizwanga, kulomthetho owodwa zwi osebenzayo: Lowomuntu kumele abulawe, angasila kuphela nxa inkosi imelulele intonga yayo yegolide.+ Manje mina sengilamalanga angu-30 ngingabizwanga enkosini.”
12 UModekhayi wathi esewuzwile umbiko ovela ku-Esta, 13 wasemphendula wathi: “Ungacabangi ukuthi ukuba sendlini yenkosi kuzakwenza usile nxa amanye amaJuda esebulawa. 14 Phela nxa ungazithulela ngalesisikhathi, ukukhululwa lokusindiswa kwamaJuda kuzavela kwenye indawo+ kodwa wena labendlu kayihlo lizabulawa. Kwazi bani, engxenye wangena esikhosini ngenxa yohlupho olunjengalolu.”+
15 U-Esta wasephendula uModekhayi wathi: 16 “Hamba uyebuthanisa wonke amaJuda aseShushani* lingizilele.+ Lingadli njalo linganathi lutho okwensuku ezintathu,+ ubusuku lemini. Lami ngizazila lezincekukazi zami. Ngemva kwalokho ngizahamba enkosini lanxa umthetho ungavumi, nxa ngingafa ngiyabe ngifile.” 17 Ngakho uModekhayi wahamba wayakwenza konke ayekutshelwe ngu-Esta.