Jonah’s Displeasure Rebuked

But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became (A)angry. Then he (B)prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was this not [a]what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore in anticipation of this I (C)fled to Tarshish, since I knew that You are a (D)gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster. So now, Lord, please (E)take my [b]life from me, for death is (F)better to me than life.” But the Lord said, “Do you have a good reason to be angry?”

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Footnotes

  1. Jonah 4:2 Lit my word
  2. Jonah 4:3 Lit soul

Jonah balks at God’s mercy

But Jonah thought this was utterly wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Come on, Lord! Wasn’t this precisely my point when I was back in my own land? This is why I fled to Tarshish earlier! I know that you are a merciful and compassionate God, very patient, full of faithful love, and willing not to destroy. At this point, Lord, you may as well take my life from me, because it would be better for me to die than to live.”

The Lord responded, “Is your anger a good thing?”

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