UJona

4 Kodwa lokhu kwamcaphula kakhulu uJona, wazonda wabila. 2 Ngakho wathandaza kuJehova wathi: “Awu Jehova, ngangivele ngisazi ngiselizweni lakithi ukuthi lokhu yikho ozakwenza. Yikho wathi ungithuma ngazama ukubalekela eThashishi+ ngoba ngangisazi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olozwelo* lesihawu, ophuza ukuthukuthela logcwele uthando oluqotho,+ ongakuthandiyo ukwehlisela abantu okubi. 3 Khathesi-ke Jehova ngiyekela ngizifele ngoba kungcono ukuthi ngife kulokuthi ngiqhubeke ngiphila.”+

4 UJehova wambuza wathi: “Ubona angani kuqondile yini ukuthi uzonde kangaka?”

5 UJona wasephuma eNiniva wayahlala phansi endaweni eyayisempumalanga kwedolobho. Wenza idunjana lokucatshela ilanga wahlala kulo elindele ukubona ukuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala edolobheni laseNiniva.+ 6 UJehova uNkulunkulu wasesenza ukuthi kumile isihlahla esithandelayo ukuze uJona athole umthunzi wokucatshisa ikhanda lakhe njalo ahlaliseke. UJona wathi ebona isihlahla leso wathokoza kakhulu.

7 Kodwa ngelanga elilandelayo ekuseni kakhulu uNkulunkulu weqiniso wathumela isibungu safika sadla isihlahla leso sabuna. 8 Ilanga lathi seliphuma uNkulunkulu wathumela umoya ovela empumalanga otshisa bhe, ilanga lambhaxabula uJona waze wasala engaselamandla. Wayelokhu ecela ukuthi afe,* esithi, “Kungcono ukuthi ngizifele kulokuthi ngiqhubeke ngiphila.”+

9 UNkulunkulu wabuza uJona wathi: “Ubona angani kuqondile yini ukuthi uzonde kangaka ngenxa yesihlahla lesi?”+

UJona waphendula wathi: “Ye kuqondile, vele ngizonde kakhulu kuthi ngife.” 10 Kodwa uJehova wathi: “Wena uzwa ubuhlungu ngesihlahla ongazange usisebenzele longazange usikhulise. Sikhule ngobusuku obubodwa nje, sabuna ngobusuku obubodwa. 11 Manje mina akumelanga ngilizwele yini idolobho elikhulu laseNiniva+ elilabantu abedlula 120 000 abangakwaziyo ukwehlukanisa okuhle lokubi* futhi elilezifuyo ezinengi kangaka?”+