Jonah 3:10-4:11

New International Version

¹⁰ When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented^(A) and did not bring on them the destruction^(B) he had threatened.^(C)

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.^{(D) 2} He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew^(E) that you are a gracious^(F) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,^(G) a God who relents^(H) from sending calamity.^{(I) 3} Now, Lord, take away my life,^(J) for it is better for me to die^(K) than to live.”^(L)

⁴ But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”^(M)

⁵ Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. ⁶ Then the Lord God provided^(N) a leafy plant^[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. ⁷ But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.^{(O) 8} When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die,^(P) and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

⁹ But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”^(Q)

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

¹⁰ But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹ And should I not have concern^(R) for the great city of Nineveh,^(S) in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”