Jonah 3:1-4:5

New Catholic Bible

An Unforeseen Success

Chapter 3

¹ The word of the Lord then came to Jonah for a second time: ² “Set out for the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.”^{[a] 3} Therefore, Jonah set out and journeyed to Nineveh in obedience to the command of the Lord.

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city; it required three days simply to walk across it. ⁴ Jonah began his journey into the city, walking for an entire day. Then he proclaimed, “After forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown.” ⁵ The people of Nineveh believed this message from God. They proclaimed a fast, and everyone, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in ashes. ⁷ Then he had this proclamation delivered throughout Nineveh: “Neither man nor beast, neither herd nor flock, is to eat anything. Do not allow them to eat or drink. ⁸ Every man and beast is to be covered with sackcloth. Let all cry out with fervor to God, and let them turn from their evil ways and their violent behavior. ⁹ Who knows? Perhaps God may change his mind and relent, and his fierce anger may abate, so that we will not perish.”

¹⁰ When God saw by their actions that they had turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not inflict upon them the punishment that he had threatened.

Chapter 4

Jonah’s Anger; God’s Reproof. ¹ This decision greatly displeased Jonah, and he became very angry. ² Praying to the Lord, he said, “Lord, isn’t this exactly what I predicted when I was still in my own country? That is why in the beginning I fled to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, who is slow to anger, abounding in mercy, and ready to relent from inflicting punishment. ³ Therefore, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” ⁴ The Lord replied, “Do you have any right to be angry?”

⁵ Then Jonah left Nineveh and walked to the east of the city. After making a booth for himself there, he sat under it in the shade while he waited to see what would happen to the city.