Jonah 3

Ninevites Turn from Their Evil Ways

1Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and call out to it this very call which I am going to speak to you.” 3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was #3:3 Lit a great city to Godan exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. 4Then Jonah began to go into the city, one day’s walk; and he called out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

5And the #3:5 Lit menpeople of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6Then the word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, laid aside his mantle from him, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the #3:6 Or dustashes. 7And he cried out and said,

“In Nineveh by the #3:7 Lit taste, cf. 3:7bdecree of the king and his nobles#3:7 Lit saying: Do not let man, #3:7 Lit beast, cattleanimal, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat, and do not let them drink water. 8But both man and #3:8 Lit beast, cattleanimal must be covered with sackcloth; and let #3:8 Lit themmen call on God with their strength that each may turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in #3:8 Lit theirhis hands. 9Who knows, God may turn and relent and turn away from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

10Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, so God #3:10 Or regretted, cf. 1 Sam 15:11, 29, 35relented concerning the evil which He had spoken He would #3:10 Lit dobring upon them. And He did not #3:10 Lit dobring it upon them.