Jonah 4
NIV Parallel HCSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
New International VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.1But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious.
2He 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 that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.2He prayed to the LORD: "Please, LORD, isn't this what I said while I was still in my own country? That's why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster.
3Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."3And now, LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
4But the LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"4The LORD asked, "Is it right for you to be angry?"
5Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.5Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city.
6Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.6Then the LORD God appointed a plant, and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah's head to ease his discomfort. Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.
7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.7When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered.
8When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down so much on Jonah's head that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, "It's better for me to die than to live."
9But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" "It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead."9Then God asked Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"" Yes," he replied. "It is right. I'm angry enough to die!"
10But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.10So the LORD said, "You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night.
11And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left--and also many animals?"11Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?"
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Jonah 3
Top of Page
Top of Page