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.
But he himselfwenta day'sjourneyinto the wilderness,and cameand satdownundera junipertree;and he requestedfor himselfthat he might die,and said,"It is enough;now,O LORD,takemy life,for I am not betterthanmy fathers."
The LORDis compassionateand gracious,Slowto angerand aboundingin lovingkindness.
The LORDis graciousand merciful;Slowto angerand greatin lovingkindness.
But He, being compassionate,forgave[their] iniquityand did not destroy[them]; And oftenHe restrainedHis angerAnd did not arouseallHis wrath.
But You, O Lord,are a Godmercifuland gracious,Slowto angerand abundantin lovingkindnessand truth.
For You, Lord,are good,and readyto forgive,And abundantin lovingkindnessto allwho callupon You.
Do return,O LORD;howlong[will it be]? And be sorryfor Your servants.
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
if that nationagainstwhichI have spokenturnsfrom its evil,I will relentconcerningthe calamityI plannedto bringon it.
O LORD,You have deceivedme and I was deceived;You have overcomeme and prevailed.I have becomea laughingstockalldaylong; Everyonemocksme.
"Nowtherefore amendyour waysand your deedsand obeythe voiceof the LORDyour God;and the LORDwill changeHis mindaboutthe misfortunewhichHe has pronouncedagainstyou.
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.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."It shall not be," saidthe LORD.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."Thistooshall not be," saidthe LordGOD.
But Jonahroseup to fleeto Tarshishfrom the presenceof the LORD.So he wentdownto Joppa,founda shipwhich was goingto Tarshish,paidthe fareand wentdowninto it to gowith them to Tarshishfrom the presenceof the LORD.
When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
"Whoknows,Godmay turnand relentand withdrawHis burningangerso that we will not perish."
Whois a GodlikeYou, who pardonsiniquityAnd passesoverthe rebelliousactof the remnantof His possession?He does not retainHis angerforever,BecauseHe delightsin unchanginglove.
But wishingto justifyhimself,he saidto Jesus,"And whois my neighbor?"
"For the LORDyour Godis a compassionateGod;He will not failyou nordestroyyou norforgetthe covenantwith your fatherswhichHe sworeto them.
