3 ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kwayo, yenzela izikhulu zayo zonke nezinceku zayo idili, amaqhawe asePheresiya naseMediya, nabakhulu nezikhulu zezifunda bephambi kwayo,
4 lapho iyibonakalisa ingcebo yombuso wayo odumileyo, nobukhosi nobuhle bobukhulu bayo izinsuku eziningi, izinsuku eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili.
5 Seziphelile lezo zinsuku, inkosi yenzela abantu bonke ababe khona eShushani endlini yenkosi, abakhulu nabancane, idili izinsuku eziyisikhombisa egcekeni lensimu yendlu yenkosi.
6 Kwakukhona izilenge ezimhlophe neziluhlaza, ziboshelwe ngezintambo zelineni elicolekileyo nezibubende emasongweni esiliva nasezinsikeni zamatshe amhlophe; imibhede yayiyigolide nesiliva phezu kwendawo egandaywe ngamatshe abomvu, nangamaparele,* nangamatshe amnyama.
7 Baphuziswa ngezitsha zegolide, izitsha zahlukene, ezinye nezinye, iwayini lamakhosi eliningi njengokwesandla senkosi.
8 Ukuphuza kwaya ngomthetho wokuba kungacindezelwa muntu, ngokuba inkosi yayiyalile zonke izinduna zendlu yayo ukuba zenze njengokuthanda kwabantu abanye ngabanye.
9 Naye uVashiti, inkosikazi, wenzela abesifazane idili endlini yenkosi u-Ahashiveroshi.