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The Lord Teaches Jonah a Lesson About Grace

But to Jonah all this seemed very bad, and he became very angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Lord, wasn’t this exactly what I said when I was still in my own country? That is why I previously fled to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and you relent from sending disaster. So now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

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Jonah Is Angry at Yahweh’s Compassion

And this[a] was greatly displeasing[b] to Jonah, and he became furious.[c] And he prayed to Yahweh and said, “O Yahweh, was this not what I said[d] while I was in my homeland? Therefore I originally fled[e] to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and having great steadfast love,[f] and one who relents concerning calamity.[g] And so then, Yahweh, please take my life from me, because for me death is better than life!” And Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Jonah 4:1 Hebrew “it”
  2. Jonah 4:1 Literally “was displeasing with great displeasure”
  3. Jonah 4:1 Literally “it was hot for him”
  4. Jonah 4:2 Literally “my word”
  5. Jonah 4:2 Literally “I did the first time to flee”
  6. Jonah 4:2 Literally “and great of steadfast love”
  7. Jonah 4:2 That is, calamity sent by God as judgment
  8. Jonah 4:4 Literally “Rightfully is it hot for you”; some take this to mean “Are you so very angry?” (Targum Jonah 4:4; see also JPS, NEB, NET)