When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
And Godsentan angelto Jerusalemto destroyit; but as he was about to destroy[it], the LORDsawand was sorryoverthe calamity,and saidto the destroyingangel,"It is enough;nowrelaxyour hand."And the angelof the LORDwas standingby the threshingfloorof Ornanthe Jebusite.
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
He who concealshis transgressionswill not prosper,But he who confessesand forsakes[them] will findcompassion.
Thereforethe LORDlongsto be graciousto you, And thereforeHe waits on highto havecompassionon you. For the LORDis a Godof justice;How blessedare allthose who longfor Him.
"At one momentI might speakconcerninga nationor concerninga kingdomto uproot,to pulldown,or to destroy[it];
if that nationagainstwhichI have spokenturnsfrom its evil,I will relentconcerningthe calamityI plannedto bringon it.
"Perhapsthe houseof Judahwill hearallthe calamitywhichI planto bringon them, in orderthat everymanwill turnfrom his evilway;then I will forgivetheir iniquityand their sin."
Ifyou will indeedstayin thisland,then I will buildyou up and not tearyou down,and I will plantyou and not uprootyou; for I will relentconcerningthe calamitythat I have inflictedon you.
And rendyour heartand not your garments."Now returnto the LORDyour God,For He is graciousand compassionate,Slowto anger,aboundingin lovingkindnessAnd relentingof evil.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."It shall not be," saidthe LORD.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."Thistooshall not be," saidthe LordGOD.
"Should I not havecompassionon Nineveh,the greatcityin whichthereare morethan120000personswhodo not know[the difference] betweentheir rightand lefthand,as well as manyanimals?"
He prayedto the LORDand said,"PleaseLORD,was not thiswhatI saidwhileI was stillin my [own] country?Thereforein order to forestallthis I fledto Tarshish,for I knewthat You are a graciousand compassionateGod,slowto angerand abundantin lovingkindness,and one who relentsconcerningcalamity.
"The menof Ninevehwill standup with thisgenerationat the judgmentand condemnit, becausethey repentedat the preachingof Jonah;and behold,something greaterthan Jonahis here.
"Sohe gotup and cameto his father.But while he was stilla long wayoff,his fathersawhim and felt compassion[for him], and ranand embracedhim and kissedhim.
