Jonah Goes to Nineveh
1A message from the Lord came to Jonah a second time. The Lord said, 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce to its people the message I give you.”
3Jonah obeyed the Lord. He went to Nineveh. It was a very large city. In fact, it took about three days to go through it. 4Jonah began by going one whole day into the city. As he went, he announced, “In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed.” 5The people of Nineveh believed God’s warning. So they decided not to eat any food for a while. And all of them put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. That’s what everyone did, from the least important of them to the most important.
6Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh. He got up from his throne. He took off his royal robes. He also dressed himself in the clothing of sadness. And then he sat down in the dust. 7Here is the message he sent out to the people of Nineveh.
“I and my nobles give this order.
Don’t let people or animals taste anything. That includes your herds and flocks. People and animals must not eat or drink anything. 8Let people and animals alike be covered with the clothing of sadness. All of you must call out to God with all your hearts. Stop doing what is evil. Don’t harm others. 9Who knows? God might take pity on us. He might not be angry with us anymore. Then we won’t die.”
10God saw what they did. He saw that they stopped doing what was evil. So he took pity on them. He didn’t destroy them as he had said he would.
Yona Aenda Ninawi
13:1 Yon 1:1Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia Yona mara ya pili: 2“Ondoka uende katika mji mkubwa wa Ninawi, ukautangazie ujumbe ninaokupa.”
3Yona akalitii neno la Bwana naye akaenda Ninawi. Basi Ninawi ulikuwa mji maarufu sana, ilichukua siku tatu kuuzunguka. 43:4 Yer 18:7-103:4 Kum 18:22Siku ya kwanza, Yona aliingia mjini. Akatangaza: “Baada ya siku arobaini Ninawi utaangamizwa.” 53:5 Mt 12:41; 11:21; Dan 9:3; Lk 11:32Watu wa Ninawi wakamwamini Mungu, wakatangaza kufunga, watu wote kuanzia mkubwa sana hadi yule mdogo kabisa, wakavaa nguo za gunia.
63:6 Es 4:1-3; Yer 6:26; Mik 1:10; Ay 2:8-13; Eze 27:30-31; Mao 3:29Habari zilipomfikia mfalme wa Ninawi, aliondoka kwenye kiti chake cha enzi, akavua majoho yake ya kifalme, akajifunika nguo ya gunia kisha akaketi chini mavumbini. 73:7 2Nya 20:3; Ezr 10:6; Yoe 2:15Ndipo akatoa tangazo katika Ninawi yote:
“Kwa amri ya mfalme na wakuu wake:
“Msiruhusu mtu yeyote au mnyama, makundi ya ngʼombe au wanyama wengine wafugwao, kuonja kitu chochote, msiwaruhusu kula wala kunywa. 83:8 Za 130:1; Yon 1:6; Isa 1:16; Eze 33:11; Dan 4:27; Yer 25:5; 7:3; Ay 16:17Bali wanadamu na wanyama wafunikwe kwa nguo za gunia. Kila mmoja afanye hima kumwomba Mungu. Waziache njia zao mbaya na udhalimu ulio mikononi mwao. 93:9 2Sam 12:22; Yer 18:8; Yoe 2:14; Za 85:3Ni nani ajuaye? Huenda Mungu akaghairi kwa huruma yake akaacha hasira yake kali ili tusiangamie.”
103:10 Amo 7:6; Yer 18:8; Kut 32:14Mungu alipoona walivyofanya na jinsi walivyogeuka kutoka njia zao mbaya, akawa na huruma wala hakuleta maangamizi juu yao kama alivyokuwa ameonya.
