3 Ukumkani makayalele abaphathi emazweni onke obukumkani bakhe, bahlanganise zonke iintombi eziseziintombi, ezimbonakalo intle, bazizìse eShushan komkhulu, endlwini yabafazi, phantsi kwesandla sikaHegayi, ithenwa lokumkani, umgcini wabafazi, zinikwe izinto zokuthambisa.
4 Ize ithi intombi ethe yalunga emehlweni okumkani, ibe ngukumkanikazi esikhundleni sikaVashti. Lalunga elo lizwi emehlweni okumkani; wenjenjalo ke.
5 Kwakukho ke eShushan komkhulu indoda engumYuda, egama linguMordekayi, unyana kaYahire, unyana kaShimehi, unyana kaKishe, indoda engumBhenjamin;
6 eyayithinjiwe eYerusalem nabathinjwa, ababethinjwe noYekoniya ukumkani wakwaYuda, owathinjwa nguNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabheli.
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.
8 Kwathi ekuvakaleni kwelizwi lokumkani nomthetho wakhe, ekuhlanganisweni kweentombi ezininzi eShushan komkhulu, phantsi kwesandla sikaHegayi, wasiwa noEstere endlwini yokumkani, phantsi kwesandla sikaHegayi, umgcini wabafazi.
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.