1:1 Ke kaloku kwathi ngemihla ka-Ahaswerosi (lo Ahaswerosi ke ubengukumkani, ethabathela eIndiya, wezisa kwaKushi: kumazwe alikhulu elinamanci mabini anesixhenxe),
1:2 ngaloo mihla, xa wayehleli ukumkani uAhaswerosi etroneni yobukumkani bakhe, eseShushan komkhulu,
1:3 ngomnyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bakhe, wabenzela isidlo bonke abathetheli bakhe nabakhonzi bakhe; xa impi yamaPersi neyamaMedi, amawaba nabathetheli bamazwe, bebephambi kwakhe;
1:4 akubon’ ukuba ubonisa abantu ubutyebi obuzukileyo bobukumkani bakhe, nesihombo esinqabileyo sobukhulu bakhe imihla emininzi, imihla elikhulu elinamanci asibhozo.
1:5 Ekuzalisekeni kwaloo mihla, ukumkani wabenzela isidlo bonke abantu abafumaneka eShushan komkhulu, kwathabathela kwabakhulu, kwesa kwabancinane, imihla yasixhenxe, entendelezweni yomyezo wendlu yokumkani.
1:6 Amalengalenga ayengawelinen emhlophe, necikizekileyo, nemsi, ebotshwe ngeentsontelo zelinen ecikizekileyo nemfusa kumakhonkco esilivere, nakwiintsika zemarmore emhlophe; izingqengqelo izezegolide nezesilivere, phezu kombekelelo wamatye aluhlaza, namhlophe, naziiperile, namnyama.
1:7 Kwaye kuselwa ngeempahla zegolide, ziziimpahla ngeempahla; ininzi iwayini yakomkhulu ngokwamandla okumkani.
1:8 Ukusela kwaye kungokomthetho kungekho unyanzelayo: kuba wenjenjalo ukumkani ukumisela zonke izikhulu zendlu yakhe, ukuba enze elowo nalowo ngokuzithandela kwakhe.
1:9 Kananjalo uVashti ukumkanikazi wenzela abafazi isidlo endlwini yakomkhulu, ebiyekakumkani uAhaswerosi.
1:10 Ngomhla wesixhenxe, xa intliziyo yokumkani yayimnandi yiwayini, wabayalela ooMehuman, noBhizeta, noHarbhona, noBhigeta, noAbhageta, noZetare, noKarkasi, ababusi abasixhenxe abalungiselelayo ebusweni bokumkani, wathi,
1:11 mabamzise uVashti ukumkanikazi phambi kokumkani enonkontsho lobukumkanikazi, ukuba abonise abantu nabathetheli ubuhle bakhe; ngokuba ebeyinzwakazi, imbonakalo yakhe.
1:12 Akavumanga ukumkanikazi uVashti ukuza ngelizwi lokumkani ngababusi abo.
1:13 Waba noburhalarhume obukhulu ukumkani, bavutha ubushushu bakhe kuye.
1:14 Wathi ke ukumkani kwizilumko eziwaziyo amaxesha (ngokuba ibisenjiwa njalo into yokumkani phambi kwabo bonke abawaziyo umthetho nesiko; ababekufuphi kuye, ooKarshena, noShetare, noAdemata, noTarshishe, noMeres, noMarsena, noMemukan, abathetheli abasixhenxe bamaPersi namaMedi, ababebubona ubuso bokumkani, ababehlala ezihlalweni zobukhulu ebukumkanini), wathi,
1:15 Ngokomthetho angenziwa ntoni na ukumkanikazi uVashti, ngenxa yokuba engalenzanga ilizwi lokumkani uAhaswerosi ngababusi?
1:16 Wathi uMemukan phambi kokumkani nabathetheli, UVashti ukumkanikazi akaphosise kukumkani yedwa; uphosise nakubathetheli bonke, nakwizizwe zonke ezisemazweni onke okumkani uAhaswerosi.
1:17 Kuba le ndawo yokumkanikazi iya kuphuma, ifikelele kubafazi bonke, adeleke amadoda abo emehlweni abo, xa kuthiwa, Ukumkani uAhaswerosi wathi makeziswe uVashti ukumkanikazi phambi kwakhe, akeza.
1:18 Kananjalo amakhosikazi asePersi naseMedi ayivayo le nto yokumkanikazi, aya kuyixela kwanamhlanje kubathetheli bonke bokumkani, kwande ke ukudela noburhalarhume.
1:19 Ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, makuphume ilizwi lokumkani ebusweni bakhe, libhalwe emithethweni yamaPersi namaMedi, ukuze lingatshitshi, lokuba uVashti angabi seza phambi kokumkani uAhaswerosi, ukumkani abunikele ubukumkanikazi bakhe kuwabo olungileyo kunaye.
1:20 Wothi ke wakuvakala umthetho wokumkani, aya kuwenza ebukumkanini bakhe bonke (ngokuba bukhulu), bonke abafazi bawabeke amadoda abo, kuthabathele kwenkulu, kuse kwencinane.
1:21 Ilizwi elo lalunga emehlweni okumkani nabathetheli. Wenza ke ukumkani ngokwelizwi likaMemukan.
1:22 Wathumela iincwadi emazweni onke kakumkani, kwilizwe ngelizwe, njengokubhala kwalo, kwizizwe ngezizwe ngokweentetho zazo, okokuba amadoda onke alawule ezindlwini zawo, athethe ngentetho yakowawo.
2:1 Emva kwezi zinto, bakudamba ubushushu bokumkani uAhaswerosi, wamkhumbula uVashti, noko abekwenzile, noko bekugqitywe ngaye.
2:2 Athi amadodana akwakumkani abelungiselela kuye, Ukumkani makafunelwe iintombi eziseziintombi, ezimbonakalo intle.
2:3 Ukumkani makayalele abaphathi emazweni onke obukumkani bakhe, bahlanganise zonke iintombi eziseziintombi, ezimbonakalo intle, bazizise eShushan komkhulu, endlwini yabafazi, phantsi kwesandla sikaHegayi, ithenwa lokumkani, umgcini wabafazi, zinikwe izinto zokuthambisa.
2:4 Ize ithi intombi ethe yalunga emehlweni okumkani, ibe ngukumkanikazi esikhundleni sikaVashti. Lalunga elo lizwi emehlweni okumkani; wenjenjalo ke.
2:5 Kwakukho ke eShushan komkhulu indoda engumYuda, egama linguMordekayi, unyana kaYahire, unyana kaShimehi, unyana kaKishe, indoda engumBhenjamin;
2:6 eyayithinjiwe eYerusalem nabathinjwa, ababethinjwe noYekoniya ukumkani wakwaYuda, owathinjwa nguNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabheli.
2:7 Yaye ingumondli kaHadasa (nguEstere ke lowo), intombi kayisekazi; ngokuba ebengenayise nanina. Intombi leyo yayimile kakuhle, intle nasebusweni. Emva kokufa kukayise nonina, uMordekayi wayithabatha yaba yintombi yakhe.
2:8 Kwathi ekuvakaleni kwelizwi lokumkani nomthetho wakhe, ekuhlanganisweni kweentombi ezininzi eShushan komkhulu, phantsi kwesandla sika Hegayi, wasiwa noEstere endlwini yokumkani, phantsi kwesandla sikaHegayi, umgcini wabafazi.
2:9 Yamkholisa intombi leyo, wayenzela ububele, wakhawuleza, wayinika izinto zayo zokuthambisa, nezabelo zayo, wayinika neentombi ezisixhenxe ezihleliweyo, ezivela endlwini yokumkani; wayibeka yona nomthinjana wayo kweyona ndawo intle kwindlu yabafazi.
2:10 UEstere ubengabaxelanga abantu bakowabo nemizalwane yakhe; kuba uMordekayi wayemwisele umthetho wokuba angabaxeli.
2:11 UMordekayi waye mana ukuhamba imihla ngemihla yonke phambi kwentendelezo yendlu yabafazi, ukuba akwazi ukuphila kukaEstere, nokwenziwayo kuye.
2:12 Ke kaloku ekufikeni kwexesha lentombi ngentombi lokuya kukumkani uAhaswerosi, ekupheleni kokwenziwa kwesiko labafazi iinyanga ezilishumi elinambini (kuba bekunjalo ukuzaliseka kwemihla yokuthanjiswa kwazo; iinyanga ezintandathu bekusenziwa ngeoli yemore, ezinye iinyanga ezintandathu ngobulawu nangeento zokuthambisa abafazi),
2:13 ngelo xesha ke ibe isithi intombi ukuya kukumkani, kuthi konke ebikunqwenela ikunikwe, ihambe nako, iphuma endlwini yabafazi ukuya endlwini yokumkani.
2:14 Ibisakuya ngokuhlwa, ngengomso ibuyele kweyesibini indlu yabafazi, ephantsi kogcino lukaShahashgazi, ithenwa lokumkani, umgcini wamashweshwe. Ibingabi saya kukumkani, engayinanzanga ukumkani, ayibize ngegama.
2:15 Ekufikeni kwexesha likaEstere, intombi ka-Abhihayili, uyisekazi kaMordekayi, obeyithabathe ukuba ibe yintombi yakhe, lokuba aye kukumkani, akafunanga nto ingaxelwanga nguHegayi ithenwa lokumkani, umgcini wabafazi. UEstere wababalwa ngabo bonke abambonayo.
2:16 Wasiwa ke uEstere kukumkani uAhaswerosi, endlwini yakhe yobukumkani, ngenyanga yeshumi (leyo yinyanga enguTebhete), ngomnyaka wesixhenxe wobukumkani bakhe.
2:17 Ukumkani wamthanda uEstere ngaphezu kwabafazi bonke; wambabala, wamenzela inceba ngaphezu kweentombi zonke; unkontsho lobukumkanikazi walubeka entlokweni yakhe, wamenza ukumkanikazi esikhundleni sikaVashti.
2:18 Ukumkani wabenzela isidlo esikhulu abathetheli bakhe nabakhonzi bakhe, isidlo sikaEstere; wawaphumza amazwe, wapha izipho ngokwamandla okumkani.
2:19 Ke kaloku ekuhlanganisweni kweentombi okwesibini, ubehleli uMordekayi esangweni lokumkani.
2:20 UEstere ubengayixelanga imizalwane yakhe nabantu bakowabo, njengoko uMordekayi wayemmisele; ngokuba ilizwi likaMordekayi ubelenza uEstere, njengokuba wayesondliwa nguye.
2:21 Ngaloo mihla kwathi, uMordekayi ehleli esangweni lokumkani, baba noburhalarhume uBhigetan noTereshe, amathenwa amabini okumkani, abagcini bomnyango, bafuna ukumsa izandla ukumkani uAhaswerosi.
2:22 Yaziwa loo nto nguMordekayi, waxelela uEstere ukumkanikazi; uEstere waxelela ukumkani egameni likaMordekayi.
2:23 Yancinwa loo nto, yafunyanwa; baxhonywa bobabini emthini. Yabhalwa loo nto encwadini yemicimbi yemihla phambi kokumkani.
3:1 Emveni kwezo zinto, ukumkani uAhaswerosi wamenza mkhulu uHaman unyana kaHamedata, umAgagi; wamphakamisa, wasimisa isihlalo sakhe ngaphezu kwabathetheli bonke ababenaye.
3:2 Bonke abakhonzi bokumkani, ababesesangweni lokumkani, babeguqa, baqubude kuHaman; kuba wenjenjalo ukumkani ukuwisa umthetho ngaye; ke yena uMordekayi akaguqa, akaqubuda kuye.
3:3 Abakhonzi bokumkani, ababesesangweni lokumkani, bathi kuMordekayi, Yini na ukuba uwugqithe umthetho wokumkani?
3:4 Kwathi ke, bakumana ukutsho kuye imihla ngemihla, engaphulaphuli kubo, bamxelela uHaman, ukukhangela ukuba aya kuma na amazwi kaMordekayi. Kuba ubebaxelele ukuba yena ungumYuda.
3:5 Wabona uHaman ukuba uMordekayi akaguqi, akaqubudi kuye; wasuka uHaman wazala ngumsindo.
3:6 Wakucekisa ukuba amse izandla uMordekayi yedwa; kuba ubebaxelelwe abantu bakuloMordekayi; wangxamela ke uHaman ukuwatshabalalisa onke amaYuda abesebukumkanini bonke buka-Ahaswerosi, abantu bakuloMordekayi.
3:7 Ngenyanga yokuqala (yinyanga enguNisan ke leyo), ngomnyaka weshumi elinesibini wokumkani uAhaswerosi, kwawiswa iPuri (liqashiso ke elo) phambi koHaman, imini ngemini, inyanga ngenyanga, yada yaba yeyeshumi elinesibini; yinyanga enguAdare ke leyo.
3:8 Wathi uHaman kukumkani uAhaswerosi, Kukho abantu abathile abathe saa, abangene phakathi kwezizwe emazweni onke obukumkani bakho; nemithetho yabo yahlukile kweyabantu bonke, abayenzi imithetho yokumkani; akufanelekile kukumkani ukubayeka.
3:9 Ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, makubhalwe batshatyalaliswe. Ndolinganisela ezandleni zabawenzayo loo msebenzi wokumkani amawaka alishumi eetalente zesilivere, ukuba ziziswe ebutyebini bokumkani.
3:10 Ukumkani wawukhulula umsesane wakhe esandleni sakhe, wawunika uHaman unyana kaHamedata, umAgagi, umbandezeli wamaYuda.
3:11 Wathi ukumkani kuHaman, Uyinikiwe isilivere leyo, nabantu abo; makwenziwe kubo ngoko kulungileyo emehlweni akho.
3:12 Kwabizwa ke ababhali bokumkani ngenyanga yokuqala, ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu kuyo. Kwabhalwa ngokomthetho wonke kaHaman, kwiirhuluneli zokumkani, nakumabamba abephethe amazwe ngamazwe, nakubathetheli babantu ngabantu, kumazwe ngamazwe ngokokubhala kwawo, kubantu ngabantu ngokweentetho zabo. Kwabhalwa egameni lokumkani uAhaswerosi, kwatywinwa ngomsesane wokumkani.
3:13 Zathunyelwa iincwadi ngezigidimi kumazwe onke okumkani, ukuba kutshatyalaliswe, kubulawe, kusingelwe phantsi onke amaYuda, kuthabathele kumfana, kuse kwindoda enkulu, iintsana nabafazi, ngamini-nye, ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu wenyanga yeshumi elinesibini (yinyanga enguAdare ke leyo); kuphangwe amaxhoba awo.
3:14 Intetho yencwadi leyo, yokuze awiselwe umthetho onke amazwe ngamazwe, yaya yathunyelwa kwizizwe zonke, ukuba zihlale ziwulungiselelwe loo mhla.
3:15 Izigidimi zaphuma zingxamile ngelizwi lokumkani; umthetho lowo wawiswa eShushan komkhulu. Ke ukumkani noHaman bahlala phantsi, basela; wona umzi waseShushan wadideka.
4:1 Ke kaloku uMordekayi wakwazi konke oko kwenziweyo. Wazikrazula uMordekayi iingubo zakhe, wambatha ezirhwexayo nothuthu, waphuma waya phakathi komzi, wakhala ngesikhalo esikhulu, esikrakra.
4:2 Wafika phambi kwesango lokumkani; kuba bekungangeni mntu esangweni lokumkani ambethe ezirhwexayo.
4:3 Kuwo onke amazwe ngamazwe, kwindawo elithe lafika kuyo ilizwi lokumkani nomthetho wakhe, yaba sisijwili esikhulu kumaYuda, nokuzila ukudla, nokulila, nokumbambazela. Abaninzi bandlala iingubo ezirhwexayo nothuthu.
4:4 Zeza ke iimpelesi zikaEstere namathenwa akwakhe, amxelela. Wamana ezibhijabhija ukumkanikazi, ebuhlungu, wathumela iingubo zokumambesa uMordekayi, zisuswe kuye ezirhwexayo; akazamkela.
4:5 UEstere wabiza uHataki wakumathenwa okumkani, obemiswe ukuba amlungisele, wamwisela umthetho kuMordekayi, ukuba azi ukuba kutheni na, kungani na.
4:6 Waphuma uHataki, waya kuMordekayi endaweni yembutho yomzi, ebiphambi kwesango lokumkani.
4:7 UMordekayi wamxelela konke okumhleleyo, wamcacisela inani lemali, abethe uHaman, uya kulilinganisela ebutyebini bokumkani ngenxa yamaYuda, ukuba atshatyalaliswe.
4:8 Wamnika nencwadi leyo yomthetho obuwiswe eShushan wokuwatshabalalisa, ukuze ayibonise uEstere, amxelele, amwisele umthetho wokuba aye kukumkani, atarhuzise kuye, athandazele abantu bakowabo ebusweni bakhe.
4:9 Weza uHataki, wamxelela uEstere amazwi kaMordekayi.
4:10 Wathetha uEstere kuHataki, wamwisela umthetho kuMordekayi, esithi,
4:11 Bonke abakhonzi bokumkani, nabantu bamazwe okumkani, bayazi ukuba umntu, noyindoda noyinkazana, othe waya kukumkani entendelezweni engaphakathi, engabizwanga, mnye umthetho wakhe, ngowokuba abulawe; ngulowo yedwa, athe ukumkani wamolulela intonga yakhe yegolide, owothi aphile; ke mna andibizwanga ukuba ndiye kukumkani le mihla imashumi mathathu.
4:12 Bamxelela ke uMordekayi amazwi kaEstere.
4:13 Wathi uMordekayi ukumphendula uEstere, Musa ukuthi emphefumlweni wakho, uya kusinda wena endlwini yokumkani ngaphezu kwamaYuda onke.
4:14 Ngokuba xa uthe wahlala wathi tu ngeli xesha, ukuphefumla nokuhlangulwa kowavelela amaYuda kwenye indawo; ke wena nendlu yoyihlo nitshatyalaliswe. Ngubani na owaziyo, hi kanti ungene ebukumkanini ngenxa yexesha elinje?
4:15 Wathi uEstere ukumphendula uMordekayi,
4:16 Yiya uwahlanganise onke amaYuda anokufumaneka eShushan, niz’ile ukudla ngenxa yam. Musani ukudla, musani ukusela, imihla ibe mithathu, ubusuku nemini. Mna kananjalo neempelesi zam siya kwenjenjalo ukuzila ukudla; ndenjenjalo ukuya kukumkani ngokungesesikweni, nditshabalale ukuba ndiyatshabalala.
4:17 UMordekayi wegqitha, wenza ngako konke uEstere abemwisele umthetho ngako.
5:1 Kwathi ngomhla wesithathu, uEstere wambatha ezobukumkanikazi, wema entendelezweni engaphakathi yendlu yokumkani, malungana nendlu yokumkani. Waye ukumkani ehleli etroneni yobukumkani bakhe endlwini yobukumkani, malunga nomnyango wendlu.
5:2 Kwathi, ukumkani akumbona uEstere ukumkanikazi emi entendelezweni, wambabala; ukumkani wayolulela kuEstere intonga yegolide ebisesandleni sakhe. Wasondela ke uEstere, waphatha encamini yentonga leyo.
5:3 Wathi ukumkani kuye, Unandawoni na, kumkanikazi Estere? Ufuna ntoni na? woyinikwa kude kube sesiqingatheni sobukumkani.
5:4 Wathi uEstere, Ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, makeze ukumkani noHaman namhla esidlweni endimenzele sona.
5:5 Wathi ukumkani, Mngxamiseni uHaman, ukuba enze ngokwelizwi likaEstere. Weza ukumkani noHaman esidlweni abesenzile uEstere.
5:6 Wathi ukumkani kuEstere esidlweni sewayini, Ucela ntoni na? woyinikwa; ufuna ntoni na? woyenzelwa kude kube sesiqingatheni sobukumkani.
5:7 Waphendula uEstere, wathi, Kuko oku ukucela kwam nokuthandaza kwam:
5:8 ukuba ndithe ndababalwa ngukumkani, ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani ukundinika endikucelayo, nokundenzela ukuthandaza kwam, makeze ukumkani noHaman esidlweni, endiya kubenzela sona, ndenze ngomso ngokwelizwi lokumkani.
5:9 Waphuma uHaman ngaloo mini evuya, enentliziyo echwayithileyo. Ke uthe uHaman, akumbona uMordekayi esangweni lokumkani, engavuki, engashukumi phambi kwakhe, uHaman wazala ngumsindo ngoMordekayi.
5:10 Ke uHaman wazibamba, waya endlwini yakhe; wathumela wabiza izithandane zakhe, noZereshe umkakhe.
5:11 UHaman wababalisela ubuqaqawuli bobutyebi bakhe, nobuninzi boonyana bakhe, nako konke ukwenziwa mkhulu kwakhe ngukumkani, nokuphakanyiswa kwakhe phezu kwabathetheli babakhonzi bokumkani.
5:12 Wathi uHaman, Ngaphezu koko, uEstere ukumkanikazi akangenisanga bani nokumkani esidlweni abesenzile, yaba ndim ndedwa; kananjalo ngomso undimemele kuye nokumkani.
5:13 Ukanti konke oko akundanelisi, wonke ugama endimbonayo uMordekayi umYuda esahleli esangweni lokumkani.
5:14 Wathi uZereshe umkakhe nezithandane zakhe zonke kuye, Mabenze umthi ube ziikubhite ezimashumi mahlanu ubude bawo, uthethe kusasa kukumkani, bamxhome uMordekayi kuwo; uye ke nokumkani esidlweni uvuya. Lalunga elo lizwi kuHaman; wawenza umthi lowo.
6:1 Ngobo busuku, bemka ababakho ubuthongo kukumkani; wathi maziziswe iincwadi zezikhumbuzo zemicimbi yemihla; zamana zileswa phambi kokumkani.
6:2 Kwafunyanwa kubhaliwe okokuba uMordekayi wabaxela ooBhigetan noTereshe, amathenwa amabini okumkani, abagcini bomnyango, ababefuna ukumsa izandla ukumkani uAhaswerosi.
6:3 Wathi ukumkani, Wenzelwe mbekoni na, nabukhulu buni na uMordekayi ngenxa yoko? Athi amadodana akwakumkani, abelungiselela kuye, Akenzelwanga nto.
6:4 Wathi ukumkani, Ngubani na osentendelezweni? Ke kaloku uHaman ubengene entendelezweni engaphandle yendlu yokumkani, esiza kuthi kukumkani, makaxhonywe uMordekayi emthini, abemlungisele wona.
6:5 Athi amadodana akwakumkani kuye, Nankuya uHaman emi entendelezweni. Wathi ukumkani, Makangene.
6:6 Wangena ke uHaman. Wathi ukumkani kuye, Makwenziwe ntoni na kwindoda, athanda ukuyibeka embekweni ukumkani? Wathi uHaman entliziyweni yakhe, Ukumkani angathanda ukubeka bani na embekweni, agqithe mna?
6:7 Wathi uHaman kukumkani, Indoda athandayo ukuyibeka embekweni ukumkani,
6:8 mabazise isambatho sobukumkani, ambatha sona ukumkani, nehashe akhwela kulo ukumkani, lubekwe entlokweni yayo unkontsho lobukumkani;
6:9 basinikele isambatho eso nehashe elo esandleni somthetheli wakumawaba okumkani, baya mbathise indoda leyo athanda ukuyibeka embekweni ukumkani, bayikhwelise ehasheni elo, icande ezitratweni zomzi, badanduluke phambi kwayo, bathi, Kwenjiwa nje, kwindoda athanda ukuyibeka embekweni ukumkani.
6:10 Wathi ukumkani kuHaman, Ngxama uthabathe isambatho eso nehashe elo, njengoko ukuthethileyo, wenjenjalo kuMordekayi umYuda, ohleli esangweni lokumkani. Makungawi phantsi nalinye ilizwi kuko konke okuthethileyo.
6:11 UHaman wasithabatha isambatho eso nehashe elo, wamambathisa uMordekayi, wamkhwelisa, wamcandisa ezitratweni zomzi, wadanduluka phambi kwakhe ngokuthi, Kwenjiwa nje kwindoda athanda ukuyibeka embekweni ukumkani.
6:12 Wabuya uMordekayi, weza esangweni lokumkani; ke uHaman wangxama waya endlwini yakhe, ethe matshamatsha, egqubuthele intloko.
6:13 UHaman wamcacisela uZereshe umkakhe, nezithandane zakhe zonke, konke okumhleleyo. Zathi kuye izilumko zakhe noZereshe umkakhe, Ukuba ngowembewu yamaYuda uMordekayi lo, uqalileyo ukuwa phambi kwakhe, akunakumthini; ke wowa uwile phambi kwakhe.
6:14 Bathe besathetha naye, kwafika amathenwa okumkani, bangxamisa ukumsa uHaman esidlweni abesenzile uEstere.
7:1 Ukumkani noHaman beza kusela noEstere ukumkanikazi.
7:2 Wathi ukumkani kuEstere nangomhla wesibini, besesidlweni sewayini, Ucela ntoni na, Estere, kumkanikazi? woyinikwa; ufuna ntoni na? woyenzelwa kude kube sesiqingatheni sobukumkani.
7:3 Waphendula uEstere ukumkanikazi, wathi, Ukuba ndithe ndababalwa nguwe, kumkani, ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, mandinikwe ubomi bam ngokucela kwam, nabantu bakowethu ngokuthandaza kwam.
7:4 Kuba kuthengisiwe ngathi, mna nabantu bakowethu, ukuze sitshatyalaliswe, sibulawe, sisingelwe phantsi. Ukuba bekuthengiswe ngathi ukuba sibe ngamakhoboka namakhobokazana, ndinge ndithe cwaka; ngokuba umbandezeli lowo ubengeyibuyiseli inkxwaleko yokumkani.
7:5 Waza ukumkani uAhaswerosi wathi kuEstere ukumkanikazi, Ngubani na lowo? uphi na yena lowo, uzalise intliziyo yakhe ukwenjenjalo?
7:6 Wathi uEstere, Indoda engumbandezeli, elutshaba, ngulo Haman ungendawo. Wadandatheka ke uHaman ebusweni bokumkani nokumkanikazi.
7:7 Wesuka ke ukumkani enomsindo esidlweni sewayini, waya emyezweni wendlu. Ke uHaman wema, ebuthandazela ubomi bakhe kuEstere ukumkanikazi; kuba ebebona ukuba ukumkani ugqibe kwelobubi kuye.
7:8 Ukumkani wabuya emyezweni wendlu, wangena endlwini yesidlo sewayini, uHaman ewe phezu kwesingqengqelo abekuso uEstere. Wathi ukumkani, Angade ukumkanikazi agonyamelwe enam, endlwini apha na? Liyathi ukuphuma elo lizwi emlonyeni wokumkani, baya bagqubuthela ubuso bukaHaman.
7:9 Wathi uHarbhona, elinye lakumathenwa abemi phambi kokumkani, Nanguya umthi, uHaman abewenzele uMordekayi, owathetha okulungileyo ngokumkani, umi endlwini kaHaman; ubude bawo buziikubhite ezimashumi mahlanu. Wathi ukumkani, Mxhomeni kuwo.
7:10 Bamxhoma ke uHaman emthini lowo, abewulungisele uMordekayi. Wadamba ke umsindo wokumkani.
8:1 Ngaloo mini, ukumkani uAhaswerosi wamnika uEstere ukumkanikazi indlu kaHaman, umbandezeli wamaYuda. UMordekayi weza phambi kokumkani; kuba uEstere ubeyixelile into abeyiyo kuye.
8:2 Ukumkani wakhulula umsesane wakhe, abewuthabathe kuHaman, wanika uMordekayi. UEstere wammisa uMordekayi phezu kwendlu kaHaman.
8:3 Waphinda uEstere, wathetha phambi kokumkani, ewe phambi kweenyawo zakhe, elila etarhuzisa kuye, ukuba abutshitshise ububi bukaHaman umAgagi, nengcinga yakhe abeyicingile ngamaYuda.
8:4 Waza ukumkani wayolulela kuEstere intonga yegolide; wavuka uEstere, wema phambi kokumkani.
8:5 Wathi, Ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, ukuba ndithe ndababalwa nguye, yafaneleka le nto phambi kokumkani, nam ndalunga emehlweni akhe: makubhalwe zibuye iincwadi zengcinga kaHaman unyana kaHamedata, umAgagi, awazibhalela ukuwatshabalalisa amaYuda asemazweni onke kakumkani.
8:6 Kuba ndingathini na ukuba nako ukububonela ububi obuya kubazela abantu bakowethu? Ndingathini na ukuba nako ukukubona ukutshatyalaliswa kwemizalwane yam?
8:7 Wathi ukumkani uAhaswerosi kuEstere ukumkanikazi, nakuMordekayi umYuda, Yabonani, indlu kaHaman ndiyinike uEstere; yena ngokwakhe bamxhoma emthini, ngenxa yokuba wasa isandla sakhe kumaYuda.
8:8 Ngoko ke, nina bhalani ngamaYuda ngoko kulungileyo emehlweni enu egameni lokumkani, nitywine ngomsesane wokumkani; kuba incwadi ebhalwe egameni lokumkani, yatywinwa ngomsesane wokumkani, akukho unokuyibuyisa.
8:9 Babizwa ke ababhali bokumkani ngelo xesha ngenyanga yesithathu (yinyanga enguSivan ke leyo), ngomhla wamashumi amabini anesithathu kuyo; kwabhalwa ngako konke awawisa umthetho ngako uMordekayi, kumaYuda, nakwiirhuluneli, nakumabamba, nakubathetheli bamazwe, athabathela eIndiya eza kwaKushi, amazwe alikhulu elinamanci mabini anesixhenxe, kwilizwe ngelizwe njengokubhala kwalo, kubantu ngabantu ngokwentetho yabo, nakumaYuda ngokokubhala kwawo nangokwentetho yawo.
8:10 Kwabhalwa egameni lokumkani uAhaswerosi, kwatywinwa ngomsesane wokumkani; kwathunywa iincwadi ngezigidimi ezisemahasheni, ezikhwele kwiimbaleki zakomkhulu, kumankonyana esihashe sakomkhulu.
8:11 Kwabhalwa kwathiwa, ukumkani uwavumele amaYuda, akwimizi ngemizi yonke, ukuba abizelane ndawonye, akhusele ubomi bawo, atshabalalise, abulale, asingele phantsi yonke impi yabantu neyelizwe eliwabandezelayo, abantwana nabafazi, aphange amaxhoba abo,
8:12 ngamini-nye, emazweni onke kakumkani uAhaswerosi, ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu wenyanga yeshumi elinesibini (yinyanga enguAdare ke leyo).
8:13 Incwadi leyo, ukuze awiselwe umthetho onke amazwe ngamazwe, yathunyelwa kwizizwe zonke, ukuze amaYuda ahlale selezilungiselele loo mhla, ukuziphindezelela ezintshabeni zawo.
8:14 Izigidimi zakhwela kwiimbaleki zakomkhulu, nakwisihashe sakomkhulu, zaphuma zingxanyisiwe lilizwi lokumkani. Umthetho lowo wawiswa eShushan komkhulu.
8:15 Ke kaloku uMordekayi waphuma ebusweni bokumkani, enesambatho sobukumkani selinen emsi emhlophe, nesithsaba esikhulu segolide, nengubo yokwaleka yelinen ecikizekileyo emfusa. Umzi waseShushan wagcoba wavuya.
8:16 KumaYuda kwabakho ukukhanya, nokuvuya, nemihlali, nembeko.
8:17 Nakumazwe ngamazwe onke, nakwimizi ngemizi yonke, elathi lafika kuyo ilizwi lokumkani nomthetho wakhe, yaba yimivuyo nemihlali kumaYuda, isidlo nomhla wokuchwayitha. Abaninzi ezizweni zelizwe baba ngamaYuda; ngokuba bafikelwa kukunkwantya ngamaYuda.
9:1 Ke kaloku ngenyanga yeshumi elinesibini (yinyanga enguAdare ke leyo), ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu kuyo, ekwakuthe kwafika ukwenziwa kwelizwi lokumkani nomthetho wakhe, ngomhla ebezilindele iintshaba zamaYuda ukuwaphatha ngegunya, kwaguqulwa oko, amaYuda aba ngawo aziphatha iintshaba zawo ngegunya.
9:2 Abizelana ndawonye amaYuda emizini yawo, emazweni onke kakumkani uAhaswerosi, ukuba abase isandla abo babefuna ukuwenza okubi; akwema mntu ebusweni bawo, ngokuba izizwe zonke zafikelwa kukunkwantya.
9:3 Bonke abathetheli bamazwe, neerhuluneli, namabamba, nabasebenzi bokumkani, bawanceda amaYuda; ngokuba babengenelwe kukoyika uMordekayi.
9:4 Kuba uMordekayi ebemkhulu endlwini yokumkani, udaba lwakhe lwaya emazweni onke; kuba indoda leyo inguMordekayi yaya iba nkulu ngokuba nkulu.
9:5 Azoyisa ke amaYuda ezo ntshaba zawo zonke ngekrele, nangokubulala, nangokutshabalalisa, enza ngokuzithandela kwabo babewathiyile.
9:6 EShushan komkhulu amaYuda abulala, atshabalalisa, amakhulu amahlanu amadoda.
9:7 UParshandata, noDalefon, noAspata,
9:8 noPorata, noAdaliya, noAridata,
9:9 noParmashta, noArisayi, noAridayi, noVayezata,
9:10 oonyana abalishumi bakaHaman unyana kaHamedata, umbandezeli wamaYuda, ababulala; ke amaxhoba akawachukumisanga.
9:11 Ngaloo mini inani lababulawelwa eShushan komkhulu laziswa phambi kokumkani.
9:12 Wathi ukumkani kuEstere ukumkanikazi, EShushan komkhulu amaYuda abulele atshabalalisa amakhulu amahlanu amadoda, noonyana abalishumi bakaHaman; kwamanye amazwe okumkani kobeka phi na? Ucela ntoni na? woyinikwa; usafuna ntoni na? woyenzelwa.
9:13 Wathi uEstere, Ukuba kuthe kwalunga kukumkani, makanikwe amaYuda aseShushan nangomso ukwenza ngokomthetho wale mini; noonyana abalishumi bakaHaman mabaxhonywe emthini.
9:14 Wathi ukumkani, Makwenjiwe njalo. Kwawiswa ke umthetho eShushan, kwaxhonywa oonyana abalishumi bakaHaman.
9:15 Abizelana ndawonye amaYuda aseShushan nangomhla weshumi elinesine wenyanga enguAdare, abulala eShushan amakhulu amathathu amadoda; amaxhoba akawachukumisanga.
9:16 Ke namanye amaYuda abesemazweni okumkani abizelana ndawonye, akhusela ubomi bawo, aphumla ezintshabeni zawo, abulala kwabo babewathiyile amashumi asixhenxe anesihlanu amawaka; amaxhoba akawachukumisanga.
9:17 Kwenzeka oku ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu wenyanga enguAdare; aphumla ngomhla weshumi elinesine kuyo, awenza umhla wesidlo nowokuvuya.
9:18 Ke amaYuda aseShushan abizelana ndawonye ngomhla weshumi elinesithathu kuyo, nangomhla weshumi elinesine kuyo, aphumla ngomhla weshumi elinesihlanu kuyo, awenza umhla wesidlo nowokuvuya.
9:19 Ngenxa yoko amaYuda asemaphandleni, abehlala emizini esemaphandleni, awenza umhla weshumi elinesine wenyanga enguAdare, ukuba ube ngowovuyo nowesidlo, umhla wokuchwayitha nowokuthumelana izabelo.
9:20 UMordekayi wazibhala ezo nto, wathumela iincwadi kumaYuda onke, abesemazweni onke kakumkani uAhaswerosi, akufuphi kwanakude;
9:21 ewamisela ukuba awugcine umhla weshumi elinesine wenyanga enguAdare, nomhla weshumi elinesihlanu kuyo, iminyaka ngeminyaka yonke,
9:22 njengokuba iyimihla awaphumla ngayo amaYuda ezintshabeni zawo; iyinyanga esaguqulwa ngawo isingqala saba luvuyo, isijwili saba ngumhla wokuchwayitha; ayenze yona ibe yimihla yesidlo, nomvuyo, neyokuthumelana izabelo, neyokupha amahlwempu izipho.
9:23 Aza amaYuda azimisela ukwenza njengoko abeqalile, nanjengoko uMordekayi ebewabhalele;
9:24 ngokuba uHaman unyana kaHamedata, umAgagi, umbandezeli wamaYuda onke, wayewacingele ukuwatshabalalisa amaYuda, wawisa iPuri (iqashiso ke elo), ukuba awadubadube, awatshabalalise.
9:25 Ekufikeni kwaloo nto phambi kokumkani, wathi ngencwadi mayibuyiselwe entlokweni yakhe ingcinga yakhe embi, abeyicingele amaYuda, bamxhome yena noonyana bakhe emthini.
9:26 Ngenxa yoko bathi loo mihla yiPuri, beyibiza ngegama leqashiso. Ngenxa yoko, ngenxa yamazwi onke aloo ncwadi, nangenxa yawakubonayo kuloo nto, nangenxa yawahlelwa kukho,
9:27 amaYuda akumisa, akuthabathela kuwo, nakwimbewu yawo, nakubo bonke abathelela kuwo, ngokuze kungatshitshi, ukuthi ayimise loo mihla yomibini ngokwesibhalo esibhalwe ngayo, nangokumiswa kwexesha layo, iminyaka ngeminyaka yonke;
9:28 ikhunjulwe loo mihla, yenziwe kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana zonke, kwimizalwane ngemizalwane, kumazwe ngamazwe, kwimizi ngemizi; ingatshitshi loo mihla yePuri phakathi kwamaYuda, ukukhunjulwa kwayo kungapheli embewini yawo.
9:29 Babhala ke ooEstere ukumkanikazi, intombi ka-Abhihayili, noMordekayi umYuda, bamisa ngokuqinileyo konke, le ncwadi yesibini yePuri.
9:30 Wathumela iincwadi kumaYuda onke, emazweni alikhulu elinamanci mabini anesixhenxe obukumkani buka-Ahaswerosi, amazwi oxolo nenyaniso,
9:31 okumisa loo mihla yePuri ngamaxesha ayo amisiweyo, ngoko bamisa ngako ooMordekayi umYuda noEstere ukumkanikazi, nangoko amaYuda azimisela ngako okwawo, nembewu yawo, amazwi okuzila ukudla nokukhala kwawo.
9:32 Ilizwi likaEstere lazimisa izinto zaloo Puri, labhalwa encwadini.
10:1 Ukumkani uAhaswerosi walirhafisa ilizwe neziqithi zolwandle.
10:2 Konke ukwenza kokuqina kwakhe, nobugorha bakhe, nengxelo yobukhulu bukaMordekayi, awenziwa mkhulu ngabo ngukumkani, azibhalwanga na ezo zinto encwadini yemicimbi yemihla yookumkani bamaMedi namaPersi?
10:3 Kuba uMordekayi umYuda ebenganeno kokumkani uAhaswerosi, emkhulu kumaYuda, ekholekile kuninzi lwabazalwana bakhe, ebafunela abantu bakowabo okulungileyo, ethetha uxolo kwimbewu yonke yakowabo.