1 Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu u-Esteri wembatha ingubo yobukhosi, wema egcekeni elingaphakathi lendlu yenkosi malungana nendlu yenkosi; inkosi yayihlezi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi endlini yobukhosi malungana nomnyango wendlu.
2 Kwathi lapho inkosi ibona u-Esteri inkosikazi emi egcekeni, wafumana umusa emehlweni ayo; inkosi yamelulela u-Esteri intonga yegolide esesandleni sayo. Wayesesondela u-Esteri, wasithinta isihloko sentonga.
3 Yayisithi inkosi kuye: “Ukhala ngani, nkosikazi Esteri, na? Yini oyifunayo na? Uyakunikwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.”
4 Wathi u-Esteri: “Uma kukuhle enkosini, inkosi noHamani mabeze namuhla edilini engiyilungisele lona.”
5 Yathi inkosi: “Msheshiseni uHamani ukuba kwenziwe njengezwi lika-Esteri.” Base beya inkosi noHamani edilini alilungisileyo u-Esteri.
6 Inkosi yathi ku-Esteri ngasedilini lewayini: “Isicelo sakho siyini na? Uyakusenzelwa. Yini oyifunayo na? Kuyakwenziwa kuze kube nenxenye yombuso.”
7 Wayesephendula u-Esteri, ethi: “Isicelo sami nengikufunayo nakhu: