U-Esta 5
1 Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesithathu uEsta wagqoka ezobundlovukazi, wema egumeni elingaphakathi lendlu yenkosi, maqondana lendlu yenkosi. Inkosi yayihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wayo endlini yesikhosini iqondene lomnyango wendlu.
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, opposite the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the entrance of the house.
2 Kwasekusithi inkosi ibona uEsta indlovukazi emi egumeni, wazuza umusa emehlweni ayo; inkosi yasimelulela uEsta intonga yobukhosi yegolide eyayisesandleni sayo. Wasesondela uEsta wathinta isihloko sentonga yobukhosi.
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Ulani, ndlovukazi Esta? Lesicelo sakho siyini? Uzasinikwa ngitsho kuze kube yingxenye yombuso.
Then said the king to her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 UEsta wasesithi: Uba kukuhle enkosini, kayize inkosi loHamani edilini engiyenzele lona.
And Esther answered, If it shall seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5 Inkosi yasisithi: Phangisisani uHamani ukuthi enze ilizwi likaEsta. Ngakho yeza inkosi loHamani edilini uEsta ayelenzile.
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 Inkosi yasisithi kuEsta edilini lewayini: Siyini isicelo sakho? Njalo uzasinikwa. Siyini-ke isifiso sakho? Kuzakwenziwa ngitsho kuze kube yingxenye yombuso.
And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7 UEsta wasephendula wathi: Isicelo sami lesifiso sami yilokhu:
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8 Uba ngithole umusa emehlweni enkosi, futhi uba kukuhle enkosini ukupha isicelo sami lokwenza isifiso sami, inkosi loHamani kabeze edilini engizalenzela bona. Kusasa-ke ngizakwenza njengokwelizwi lenkosi.
If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it shall please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
9 UHamani wasephuma mhlalokho ethokoza elenhliziyo enhle. Kodwa uHamani ebona uModekhayi esangweni lenkosi ukuthi kasukumanga lokuthi kamthuthumelelanga, uHamani wagcwala ulaka ngoModekhayi.
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor trembled before him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Kodwa uHamani wazithinta, wafika endlini yakhe; wasethuma walanda abangane bakhe loZereshi umkakhe.
Nevertheless Haman restrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11 UHamani wasebalandisela udumo lwenotho yakhe, lobunengi bamadodana akhe, lakho konke inkosi eyayimkhulise ngakho, leyamphakamisa ngakho phezu kweziphathamandla lenceku zenkosi.
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 UHamani wasesithi: Yebo, uEsta indlovukazi kangenisanga muntu kanye lenkosi edilini alenzileyo ngaphandle kwami; njalo lakusasa nginxuselwe kuye lenkosi.
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow I am invited to her also with the king.
13 Kanti konke lokhu kakungenelisi ngalutho ngaso sonke isikhathi ngibona uModekhayi umJuda ehlezi esangweni lenkosi.
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14 UZereshi umkakhe labo bonke abangane bakhe basebesithi kuye: Kakwenziwe ugodo ubude obuzingalo ezingamatshumi amahlanu; kusasa-ke uthi enkosini kabalengise uModekhayi kulo, ubusungena lenkosi edilini uthokozile. Njalo loludaba lwalulungile phambi kukaHamani, waselwenza ugodo.
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it: then go thou in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
