U-Esta 4

1 UModekhayi esekwazile konke okwenziweyo, uModekhayi wadabula izigqoko zakhe, wagqoka isaka lomlotha, waphuma wangena phakathi komuzi, wakhala ukukhala okukhulu lokubabayo,

But Mardochaeus having perceived what was done, tore his garments, and put on sackcloth, and sprinkled dust upon himself; and having rushed forth through the open street of the city, he cried with a loud voice, A nation that has done no wrong is going to be destroyed.

2 weza waze waba phambi kwesango lenkosi, ngoba kwakungekho ongangena esangweni lenkosi egqoke isaka.

And he came to the king's gate, and stood; for it was not lawful for him to enter into the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes.

3 Lakuso sonke isabelo lesabelo, indawo lapho ilizwi lenkosi lomthetho okwakufika khona, kwaba lokulila okukhulu kumaJuda, lokuzila ukudla, lokukhala inyembezi, lokulila; amanengi alala emasakeni lemlotheni.

And in every province where the letters were published, [there was] crying and lamentation and great mourning on the part of the Jews: they spread for themselves sackcloth and ashes.

4 Kwasekufika amantombazana kaEsta labathenwa bakhe bamtshela; indlovukazi yasidabuka kakhulu, yathumela izembatho zokugqokisa uModekhayi, lokususa kuye isaka lakhe, kodwa kazemukelanga.

And the queen's maids and chamberlains went in and told her: and when she had heard what was done, she was disturbed; and she sent to clothe Mardochaeus, and take away his sackcloth; but he consented not.

5 UEsta wasebiza uHathaki omunye wabathenwa benkosi eyayimmisele yena, wamlaya ngoModekhayi ukuthi azi ukuthi kuyini lokuthi kungani.

So Esther called for her chamberlain Achrathaeus, who waited upon her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mardochaeus.

6 UHathaki wasephuma waya kuModekhayi egcekeni lomuzi elaliphambi kwesango lenkosi.

7 UModekhayi wamtshela konke okwenzeke kuye, lengcazelo yemali uHamani athi uzayilinganisela kokuligugu kwenkosi ngamaJuda ukuwachitha.

And Mardochaeus showed him what was done, and the promise which Aman had made the king of ten thousand talents [to be paid] into the treasury, that he might destroy the Jews.

8 Wasemnika ikhophi yombhalo womthetho eyanikwa eShushani ukuwachitha ukuthi ayitshengise uEsta, lokuthi amtshele, lokuthi amlaye ukuthi angene enkosini, ukumncengela, lokucelela abantu bakibo phambi kwakhe.

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 UHathaki wasesiza wamtshela uEsta amazwi kaModekhayi.

So Achrathaeus went in and told her all these words.

10 UEsta wasekhuluma loHathaki, wamnika umlayo usiya kuModekhayi wokuthi:

And Esther said to Achrathaeus, Go to Mardochaeus, and say,

11 Zonke inceku zenkosi labantu bezabelo zenkosi bayakwazi ukuthi, loba ngubani, owesilisa loba owesifazana, ongena esiya enkosini egumeni elingaphakathi, engabizwanga, kulomthetho owodwa ngaye wokumbulala, ngaphandle kokuthi inkosi imelulele intonga yobukhosi yegolide, ukuze aphile; kodwa mina kangibizwanga ukungena enkosini lezinsuku ezingamatshumi amathathu.

All the nations of the empire know, that whoever, man or woman, shall go in to the king into the inner court uncalled, that person can’t live: only to whoever the king shall stretch out [his] golden sceptre, he shall live: and I have not been called to go into the king, for these thirty days.

12 Basebemtshela uModekhayi amazwi kaEsta.

And Achrathaeus reported to Mardochaeus all the words of Esther.

13 UModekhayi wasesithi ephendula uEsta: Ungacabangi engqondweni yakho ukuthi uzaphepha endlini yenkosi okwedlula wonke amaJuda.

Then Mardochaeus said to Achrathaeus, Go, and say to her, Esther, say not to yourself that you alone will escape in the kingdom, more than all the [other] Jews.

14 Ngoba uba uthula lokuthula ngalesisikhathi, usizo lenkululeko kuzamela amaJuda kuvela kwenye indawo, kodwa wena lendlu kayihlo lizabhubha. Ngubani kambe owaziyo ukuthi ufikile embusweni ngenxa yesikhathi esinje?

For if you shall refuse to listen on this occasion, help and protection will be to the Jews from another quarter; but you and your father's house will perish: and who knows, if you have been made queen for this [very] occasion?

15 UEsta wasesithi ephendula uModekhayi:

And Esther sent the [man] that came to her to Mardochaeus, saying,

16 Hamba ubuthanise wonke amaJuda atholakala eShushani, lingizilele ukudla, lingadli linganathi insuku ezintathu ubusuku lemini; lami lamantombazana ami sizazila ukudla ngokufananayo; ngokunjalo-ke ngizangena enkosini, okunganjengokomthetho; njalo uba ngibhubha, ngizabhubha.

Go and assemble the Jews that are in Susa, and fast you for me, and eat not and drink not for three days, night and day: and I also and my maidens will fast; and then I will go in to the king contrary to the law, even if I must die.

17 UModekhayi waseqhubeka wenza njengakho konke uEsta amlaye khona.

So Mardochaeus went and did all that Esther commanded him.