1Inkosi noHamani baya edilini lendlovukazi u-Esteri.
2Ngosuku lwesibili edilini, besaphuza iwayini, inkosi yambuza okwesibili u-Esteri, yathi: “Ndlovukazi, Esteri, siyini isicelo sakho na? Uzosenzelwa. Ufunani-ke? Uyakunikwa noma kungaba yingxenye yombuso.”
3Indlovukazi u-Esteri yaphendula, yathi: “Uma ngifumene umusa kuwe nkosi, futhi kukuhle kuwe, mangibuyiselwe ukuphila kwami nokwabantu bakithi, yileso isicelo sami, yilokho engikucelayo.
4Ngokuba mina nabantu bakithi sithengisiwe, sizobulawa, sibhujiswe, siqedwe nya. Ukuba besithengisiwe sayoba yizigqila bengizozithulela, ngokuba leyo nkathazo ibingeke iyilimaze inkosi.”
5Inkosi u-Ahasheveroshi yabuza indlovukazi u-Esteri, yathi: “Ngubani lowo? Uphi lowo muntu onesibindi sokwenza into enjengalena na?”
6U-Esteri wathi: “Umuntu omelene nathi, isitha, yilo Hamani okhohlakeleyo.” Kwaphela nasozwaneni wuvalo kuHamani, phambi kwenkosi nendlovukazi.
7Inkosi yasukuma yashiya idili, yaphuma ithukuthele ibila, yaya engadini yasesigodlweni. UHamani wasala encenga indlovukazi u-Esteri ukuba angabulawa.
8Kuthe lapho inkosi ibuya engadini yasesigodlweni, ingena endlini yedili, yafica uHamani ewele embhedeni okwakucambalele kuwo u-Esteri, yathi: “Awunamahloni okubhudukeza indlovukazi phambi kwami, esigodlweni sami pho?” Ithe ingasho lawo mazwi inkosi, abathenwa baphuthuma bemboza ubuso bukaHamani.
9UHaribhona omunye wabathenwa ababephambi kwenkosi, wathi: “Kunesigxobo sokuphanyeka eside uHamani asimisele ukuphanyeka kuso uMoridekhayi, indoda eyasindisa impilo yakho, nkosi; singamakhubhithi angama-50 ubude.” Inkosi yayaleza, yathi: “Mphanyekeni kuso!”
10Base bemphanyeka esigxotsheni sokuphanyeka, uHamani ayekade esilungiselele uMoridekhayi. Yayisibohla intukuthelo enkosini.