Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
1But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 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. 3Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4But the Lord replied, “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. 6Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant4:6 The precise identification of this plant is uncertain; also in verses 7, 9 and 10. 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. 7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that 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.”
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.”
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. 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?”
Yona Abufuw Wɔ Awurade Ahummɔbɔ Ho
1Nanso na eyi yɛ mfomso kɛse ma Yona, na ne bo fuwii. 2Ɔbɔɔ Awurade mpae se, “Awurade, bere a na mewɔ fie no, ɛnyɛ sɛɛ na mekae? Eyi nti na meperee sɛ miguan akɔ Tarsis no, efisɛ na minim sɛ, woyɛ ɔdomfo ne mmɔborɔhunu Nyankopɔn a wo bo kyɛ fuw, na wo dɔ boro so. Woyɛ Onyankopɔn a ɔtwentwɛn nʼanan ase wɔ bɔne amanehunu ho. 3Afei, Awurade! Gye me nkwa fi me nsɛm. Eye ma me sɛ mewu sen sɛ mɛtena ase.”
4Na Awurade buae se, “Eye sɛ wo bo fuw wɔ saa asɛm yi ho ana?”
5Na Yona kɔɔ kuropɔn no apuei fam baabi kɔtenaa hɔ. Ɔbɔɔ pata tenaa ne nwini no mu, twɛn nea ɛbɛba kuropɔn no so. 6Na Awurade Nyankopɔn maa dua bi a ɛwɔ nhaban pii nyin ntɛmntɛm wɔ nʼatifi na ɛmaa Yona nyaa ahotɔ, na nʼani gyee dua no ho. 7Nanso ahemadakye no, Onyankopɔn maa ɔsa bɛwee dua no maa nhaban no poe. 8Owia puei no, Onyankopɔn maa apuei mframa bi a mu yɛ hyew bɔe, na owia hyee Yona apampam ma ɔtɔɔ beraw. Ɔpɛɛ sɛ owu, na ɔkae se, “Eye ma me sɛ miwu sen sɛ metena ase.”
9Onyankopɔn bisaa Yona se, “Eye sɛ wofa abufuw wɔ dua no ho ana?”
Yona buae se, “Yiw, me bo afuw, na sɛ miwu a anka mepɛ.”
10Na Awurade kae se, “Dua yi ho asɛm ahaw wo, nanso woanni ho dwuma biara, na ɛnyɛ wo na woma enyinii. Efifii ntɛmntɛm na ewuu ntɛmntɛm. 11Nanso nnipa mpem ɔha ne aduonu wɔ Ninewe a wonnim wɔn benkum ne wɔn nifa. Na mmoa bebree nso wɔ hɔ. Ɛnsɛ sɛ mema Ninewe kuropɔn yi ho asɛm haw me ana?”
