Jonah 4:1-7

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Jonah’s Anger

4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.^{(A) 2} He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.^{(B) 3} And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”^{(C) 4} And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”^{(D) 5} Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.^(E)

⁶ The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. ⁷ But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered.