< Esther 1 >

1 In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
Kino kye kyabaawo ku mirembe gya Akaswero, eyafuga amasaza kikumi mu abiri mu musanvu okuva e Buyindi okutuuka e Buwesiyopya.
2 when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
Mu kiseera ekyo Kabaka Akaswero we yafugira mu lubiri e Susani,
3 And so, in the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants, for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes, and for the rulers of the provinces before him,
mu mwaka ogwokusatu ogw’obufuzi bwe, yagabula abakungu n’abaami be abakulu embaga. Abaduumizi ba magye aga Buperusi ne Bumeedi, n’abalangira n’abakungu b’amasaza bonna baagiriko.
4 so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom, as well as its greatness, and so boast of his power, for a long time, namely, one hundred and eighty days.
Yayolesa obugagga n’ekitiibwa n’ettendo eby’obwakabaka bwe okumala emyezi mukaaga.
5 And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people, who had been found in Susa, from the greatest even to the least, and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum, which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.
Ennaku ezo bwe zaggwaako, Kabaka n’agabula abantu bonna okuva ku asemberayo ddala okutuuka ku asingirayo ddala ekitiibwa embaga endala eyali mu luggya, mu lubiri e Susani okumala ennaku musanvu.
6 And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up, suspended by cords of linen and even purple, which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns. The couches also, of gold and silver, had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels, which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.
Oluggya lwalimu entimbe ez’engoye enjeru n’eza bbululu, nga zisibiddwa n’emiguwa egya linena omulungi n’olugoye olwa kakobe nga lusibiddwa n’empeta eza ffeeza ku mpagi ez’amayinja aganyirira. Waaliwo n’ebitanda ebya zaabu n’effeeza ku lubalaza olwaliire n’amayinja aganyirira, amamyufu, n’ameeru, n’aga kyenvu n’amaddugavu.
7 Moreover, those who had been invited drank from golden cups, and dishes of foods were brought in one after another. Likewise, choice wine was presented in abundance, as was worthy of royal magnificence.
Mu kugabula kwa kabaka, wayini yaweerezebwa mu bikopo bya zaabu, nga buli kimu tekifanagana na kinnaakyo, ne wayini wa Kabaka yali mungi ddala.
8 Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but, just as the king had appointed, one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.
Buli mugenyi yanywanga nga bwe yayagala kubanga kabaka yalagira nti, “Buli mugenyi anywe nga bw’ayagala.”
9 Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.
Ne Nnabagereka Vasuti naye n’agabula abakyala embaga mu lubiri lwa Kabaka Akaswero.
10 And so, on the seventh day, when the king was more cheerful, and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine, he ordered Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Charkas, seven eunuchs who served in his presence,
Awo ku lunaku olwomusanvu, Kabaka Akaswero mu ssanyu lingi olwa wayini gwe yali anywedde, n’alagira abalaawe musanvu, abaamuweerezanga: Mekumani, ne Bizusa, ne Kalubona, ne Bigusa, ne Abagusa, ne Zesali ne Kalukasi,
11 to bring in queen Vashti before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders, for she was very beautiful.
okugenda okuyita Nnabagereka Vasuti ajje mu maaso ge ng’atikkiddwa engule eya Nnabagereka, asobole okulaga obubalagavu bwe eri abantu n’abakungu, kubanga yali mulungi, mubalagavu okukamala.
12 She refused, and she showed contempt towards the king’s command, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,
Naye abaweereza bwe baatuusa ekiragiro kya kabaka, Nnabagareka Vasuti n’agaana okugenda. Era ekyavaamu kabaka n’asunguwala, era obusungu bwe ne bubuubuuka.
13 questioned the wise men, who, according to royal custom were always near him and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,
Naye Kabaka yalina empisa ey’okwebuuzanga ku bakugu mu by’amateeka, era n’ateesa n’abasajja abagezigezi abategeera ebifa ku nsonga eyo.
14 (but first and foremost were Carshena, and Shethar, and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes, who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him, )
Amannya ga bakungu abo abakulu omusanvu mu bwakabaka bwe Buperusi ne Bumeedi ge gano: Kalusena, ne Sesali, ne Adumasa, ne Talusiisi, ne Meresi, ne Malusema ne Memukani. Bano be baamubeeranga ku lusegere.
15 as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen, who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.
Awo Kabaka n’ababuuza nti, “Okusinziira ku mateeka, Nnabagereka Vasuti agwanidde kibonerezo ki olw’obutagondera kiragiro kya Kabaka Akaswero ekimutuusibbwako abalaawe?”
16 And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers, “Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king, but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.
Memukani n’addamu Kabaka n’abakungu nti, “Nnabagereka Vasuti asobezza nnyo, ate si eri Kabaka yekka, naye n’eri abakungu n’abantu bonna ab’omu bitundu byonna Kabaka Akaswero by’afuga.
17 For word about the queen will go out to all the women, so that they will show contempt for their husbands, and they will say, ‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him, and she would not.’
Era olw’enneeyisa Nnabagereka gye yeeyisizaamu, bwe kinaamanyibwa abakyala, nabo bajja kunyoomanga ba bbaabwe nga bagamba nti, ‘Nga Kabaka Akaswero yalagira Nnabagereka Vasuti okuleetebwa gy’ali, n’ajeema.’
18 And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands; therefore, the indignation of the king is just.
Era olunaku lwa leero abakyala bonna mu Buperusi ne Bumeedi aba bakungu abawulidde ku nneeyisa ya Nnabagereka bajjanga kweyisa mu ngeri y’emu eri abakungu ba Kabaka. Era obunyoomi wamu n’obutabanguko tebuggwengawo mu maka.
19 If it pleases you, let an edict be sent out from your presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes, which it is forbidden to disregard, that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king, but let another, who is better than her, receive her queenship.
Noolwekyo Kabaka bw’anaasiima, awe ekiragiro, era kiwandiikibwe mu mateeka ga Buperusi ne Bumeedi agatakyuka, nti Vasuti aleme okujja nate mu maaso ga Kabaka Akaswero. Ate n’ekifo kye eky’Obwannabagereka, kiweebwe omukazi omulala amusinga.
20 And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, the greater as much as the lesser, give honor to their husbands.”
Awo ekiragiro kya kabaka bwe kinaabuna mu bwakabaka bwonna, abakyala bonna banassangamu ba bbaabwe ekitiibwa okuva ku wawagulu okutuukira ddala ku wawansi asembayo.”
21 His counsel pleased the king and the rulers, and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,
Ekigambo ekyo kyasanyusa nnyo Kabaka n’abakungu be, era Kabaka n’akola ng’ekiteeso kya Memukani bwe kyali.
22 and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, so that every nation was able to hear and to read, in various languages and letters, that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses, and that this should be published to every people.
N’aweereza obubaka eri ebitundu byonna eby’obwakabaka buli ssaza ebbaluwa yaayo, era buli bantu mu lulimi lwabwe nga bugamba nti buli musajja afugenga mu nnyumba ye.

< Esther 1 >