Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.^(A)

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^(A) that you are a gracious^(B) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,^(C) a God who relents^(D) from sending calamity.^(E)

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

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

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