< U-Esta 5 >
1 Ngelanga lesithathu u-Esta wagqoka izembatho zakhe zobukhosi wema enkundleni engaphakathi kwesigodlo phambi kwendlu yenkosi. Inkosi yayihlezi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi endlini yayo, ikhangele emnyango.
Pazuva rechitatu Esteri akapfeka nguo dzake dzouhosi ndokumira muruvazhe rwomukati momuzinda, pamberi peimba yamambo. Mambo akanga akagara pachigaro chake choushe mumba, akatarisana nomukova.
2 Yathi ibona iNdlovukazi u-Esta imi enkundleni, yathokoza ngaye, yasiselula intonga yayo yegolide eyayisesandleni sayo, yamkhomba ngayo. U-Esta wasesondela wathinta isihloko sentonga.
Paakaona vaHosi Esteri vakamira muruvanze, akafadzwa naye ndokumutambanudzira tsvimbo yake yegoridhe yaiva muruoko rwake. Naizvozvo Esteri akaswedera ndokubata muromo wetsvimbo.
3 Inkosi yasibuza yathi, “Kutheni Ndlovukazi Esta? Siyini isicelo sakho na? Uzanikwa loba yini, okungafika kungxenye yombuso.”
Ipapo mambo akamubvunza achiti, “Uri kureveiko, vaHosi Esteri? Chikumbiro chako ndecheiko? Kunyange hafu youshe uchaipiwa.”
4 U-Esta wathi, “Nxa inkosi ithokoza ngalokhu, bengicela ukuthi inkosi kanye loHamani beze lamhla edilini engililungisele yona.”
Esteri akati, “Kana zvichifadza mambo, mambo ngaauye nhasi pamwe chete naHamani, kumabiko andakugadzirirai.”
5 Inkosi yathi, “UHamani keze khathesi, ukuze kwenziwe okucelwa ngu-Esta.” Inkosi loHamani baya edilini elalilungiswe ngu-Esta.
Mambo akati, “Hamani ngaauye nokuchimbidza, kuti tiite zvinokumbirwa naEsteri.” Naizvozvo mambo naHamani vakaenda kumabiko akaitwa naEsteri.
6 Kwathi besanatha iwayini, inkosi yambuza njalo u-Esta yathi, “Siyini isicelo sakho? Uzakukwamukeliswa. Kuyini okucelayo na? Uzanikwa loba yini okungafika kungxenye yombuso.”
Pavakanga vachinwa waini, mambo akabvunzazve Esteri achiti, “Zvino, chikumbiro chako ndechei? Uchachipiwa. Uye unokumbireiko? Kunyange hafu youshe, uchapiwa.”
7 U-Esta waphendula wathi, “Isikhalazo sami lesicelo sami yilokhu:
Esteri akapindura akati, “Chichemo changu nechikumbiro changu ndeichi:
8 Nxa inkosi ingamukela ngomusa njalo nxa inkosi ithokoza ngokwamukela isikhalazo sami njalo igcwalise isicelo sami, bengicela ukuthi inkosi kanye loHamani kusasa beze edilini engizabalungisela lona. Kulapho engizaphendula okubuzwe yinkosi.”
Kana ndanzwirwa nyasha namambo uye kana zvichifadza mambo kupedza chichemo changu nokuzadzisa chikumbiro changu, mambo ngaauye mangwana naHamani kumabiko andichavagadzirira. Ipapo ndichapindura mubvunzo wamambo.”
9 UHamani wasuka lapho mhlalokho ethabe kakhulukazi. Kodwa uthe ebona uModekhayi esesangweni lenkosi wananzelela ukuthi kamsukumeli loba ukutshengisa ukwesaba phambi kwakhe, wagcwalelana ngokumthukuthelela uModekhayi.
Pazuva iro, Hamani akaenda achifara nomufaro mukuru mumwoyo make. Asi paakaona Modhekai pasuo ramambo uye akaona kuti akanga asingasimuki kana kuratidza kutya pamberi pake, akazara nehasha nokuda kwaModhekai.
10 Kodwa wazibamba waya emzini wakhe, wabiza abangane bakhe ndawonye kanye loZereshi umkakhe,
Zvakadaro hazvo, Hamani akazvidzora ndokubva aenda kumba. Akadana shamwari dzake pamwe chete naZereshi, mukadzi wake,
11 uHamani wasezincoma kubo ngenotho yakhe enengi, langamadodana akhe amanengi, kanye lazozonke izindlela inkosi eyayimhlonipha ngazo lokuthi imphakamise yambeka phezu kwezinye izikhulu leziphathamandla.
Hamani akavarondedzera nezvepfuma yake zhinji, zvokuwanda kwavanakomana vake, uye nenzira dzose dzaakaremekedzwa nadzo namambo nokuti akakwidziridzwa sei pamusoro pamamwe makurukota navabati.
12 UHamani wengeza wathi, “Njalo akusikho kodwa lokhu. Yimi ngedwa zwi umuntu omenywe yiNdlovukazi u-Esta ukuba ngiphelekezele inkosi edilini elenzileyo. Njalo usenginxusile kanye lenkosi kusasa.
Hamani akatizve, “Hazvisi izvozvo chete, ndini chete munhu akakokwa navahosi Esteri kuti ndiperekedze mambo kumabiko aakatiitira. Zvino andikokazve mangwana pamwe namambo.
13 Kodwa konke lokhu akungisuthisi ikakhulu nxa ngilokhu ngibona umJuda loya onguModekhayi ehlezi esangweni lenkosi.”
Asi zvose izvi handigutsikani nazvo kana ndichiona muJudha uyu Modhekai agere pasuo ramambo.”
14 Umkakhe uZereshi kanye labangane bakhe bonke bathi kuye, “Yenza indawo yokulengisa abantu, ibe zingalo ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa lanhlanu ubude, ubusucela inkosi ekuseni ukuba ilengise uModekhayi lapho. Ube usuziyela edilini uchelesile.” Umcabango lo wamthokozisa kakhulu uHamani, yasisakhiwa indawo yokulengisa.
Mukadzi wake Zereshi neshamwari dzake dzose vakati kwaari, “Misa matanda akareba makubhiti makumi mashanu, ugokumbira mambo panguva dzamangwanani kuti Modhekai asungirirwepo. Ipapo ugoenda namambo kumabiko nomufaro.” Shoko iri rakafadza Hamani, ndokubva aita kuti matanda amiswe.