Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Dinner
1 Three days later, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the inner court of the palace in front of the throne. The king was sitting there, facing the open doorway. 2 He was happy to see Esther, and he held out the gold scepter to her.
When Esther came up and touched the tip of the scepter, 3 the king said, “Esther, what brings you here? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
4 Esther answered, “Your Majesty, please come with Haman to a dinner I will prepare for you later today.”
5 The king said to his servants, “Hurry and get Haman, so we can accept Esther's invitation.”
The king and Haman went to Esther's dinner, 6 and while they were drinking wine, the king asked her, “What can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
7-8 Esther replied, “Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to do what I want, please come again tomorrow with Haman to the dinner I will prepare for you. At that time I will answer Your Majesty's question.”
Haman Plans To Kill Mordecai
9 Haman was feeling great as he left. But when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate, he noticed that Mordecai did not stand up or show him any respect. This made Haman really angry, 10 but he did not say a thing.
When Haman got home, he called together his friends and his wife Zeresh 11 and started bragging about his great wealth and all his sons. He told them the many ways that the king had honored him and how all the other officials and leaders had to respect him. 12 Haman added, “That's not all! Besides the king himself, I'm the only person Queen Esther invited for dinner. She has also invited the king and me to dinner tomorrow. 13 But none of this makes me happy, as long as I see that Jew Mordecai serving the king.”
14 Haman's wife and friends said to him, “Have a gallows built about 22 meters high, and tomorrow morning ask the king to hang Mordecai there. Then later, you can have dinner with the king and enjoy yourself.”
This seemed like a good idea to Haman, and he had the gallows built.
Esita unokoka Hamani
1 Mu zhuba le butatu Esita kaambala zwiambalo zwizwe zwe bumambokadzi ngono kanoma mukatikati kwe ng'umba mbeli kwe ng'umba hwulu ya mambo. Mambo wakabe ali gele mu tjigalo tjitje mu ng'umba hwulu ye bushe akalingisana ne nkoba. 2 Wakati ebona Nfumakadzi Esita ali mile pakati kwe ng'umba kanshathisa kwazo ngono katambunudza swimbgwana iye ye bushe yaakabe akabhata yakathamiwa nge golide, ngono Esita kasedzela kaibhata ku nsholo. 3 Ipapo mambo bakandwa beti, “Kwatini Nfumakadzi Esita? Unoshakani kene? Leba koga, ndowokupa kunolizana ne gwamu le bushe gwangu.” 4 Esita wakashandula eti, “Tetshi wangu, apa kumushathisa, ndokumbila kuti muzhe ku mabhikwa na Hamani andinowomululwamisa nasi.” 5 Ngono mambo bakabe beti, “Danani Hamani abuye tjinyolotjo kuti azhe tithame tjinoshakiwa ndi Esita.” Ndizo mambo na Hamani bakayenda ku mabhikwa kuna Esita. 6 Ngono bakati batja ng'wa nkumbi we zhambi, mambo kabe eti kuna Esita, “Ini tjaunoshaka ndikuthamile itjo? Leba koga ndowokupa kunolizana ne gwamu le bushe gwangu.” 7-8 Ngono Esita kashandula eti, “Tetshi wangu apa kumushathisa, ndomukumbila kuti mushingikadze tjandinowokumbila, ndokumbila kuti muzhe na Hamani ku nzano we mabhikwa andinowomululwamisila kakale mangwana, mu tjibaka itjetjo ndipo pandinomubudza tjandinoshaka.” 9 Zhuba ilelo Hamani wakayenda etshambila pezhugwi akashatha kwazo, koga wakati ebona Modekayi ali pa nkoba wa mambo, asingamilike kene kunlakidza zila imwe koga ye kunteta kazhala bushongola kwazo, 10 koga kazwibhata kasilebe tjimwe ngono kayenda ku nzi uwe kanodana bakwinya babe ne nkadzi uwe Zereshi. 11 Ngono Hamani katangisa kuzwikudza mbeli kwabo ngekwe fumwa iye nenge bakololo babe bose. Kababudza ngekwe zila dzose dzaakakudziwa ndi mambo ne nge mamo awe anopinda e makulukota wose ne bashingi bose ba mambo ne kuti bamwe bashingi banafanilo dze kunteta kungapani. 12 Ngono Hamani kadwilila eti, “Bonani koga na Nfumakadzi Esita akuna mmwe waakoka kuti azhe na mambo ku nzano we mabhikwa kuzhe kwangu koga, ndizo takakokiwa imi na mambo ku zojiwa zwe mangwana. 13 Nenguba kwakajalo ikoku kose akutondishathisa apa nditjabona Modekayi we Njuta atjipa nkoba we bugalo gwa mambo.” 14 Ngono bakwinya babe ne nkadzi uwe Zereshi bakandwa bakati, “Iti kuthamwe thungamakole ye bulefu gunga bhata makumi mabili ana bubili, ngono mangwana mangwanana ukumbile mambo kuti Modekayi asungiligwe muili, kuti ndizo shule unoja mabhikwa na mambo wakashatha.” Ngono matama iyawa kashathisa Hamani ngono thungamakole ikabakwa.