Jonah Preaches at Nineveh

3 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” ³ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, ^[a]a three-day journey in extent. ⁴ And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then ^(A)he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

The People of Nineveh Believe

⁵ So the ^(B)people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. ⁶ Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth ^(C)and sat in ashes. ^7 (D)And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his ^[b]nobles, saying,

^10 (H)Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Christ’s Example to Be Followed

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered ^[a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, ^(A)but for the will of God. ³ For we have spent enough of our past ^[b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready ^(B)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason ^(C)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but ^(D)live according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

⁷ But ^(E)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^(F)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” ^9 (G)Be hospitable to one another ^(H)without grumbling. ^10 (I)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, ^(J)as good stewards of ^(K)the manifold grace of God. ^11 (L)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ^[c]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that ^(M)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ^[d]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice ^(N)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(O)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are ^[e]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(P)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[f]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(Q)but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ^[g]busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^[h]matter.

¹⁷ For the time has come ^(R)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^(S)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ^(U)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.