³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;^(A) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

²⁶ Such a high priest^(A) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(B) exalted above the heavens.^(C)

³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom;^(A) and now something greater than Solomon is here.

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.”

⁵ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.^(A)

⁶ When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.^{(B) 7} This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

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

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.^{(O) 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^(P) that you are a gracious^(Q) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,^(R) a God who relents^(S) from sending calamity.^{(T) 3} Now, Lord, take away my life,^(U) for it is better for me to die^(V) than to live.”^(W)

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

² “Go to the great city of Nineveh^(A) and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran^(B) away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish^(C). He went down to Joppa,^(D) where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.^(E)