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?”
Hasira Ya Yona Kwa Ajili Ya Huruma Ya Bwana.
14:1 Mt 20:11; 20:15; Lk 15:28Lakini Yona alichukizwa sana akakasirika. 24:2 Yer 20:7-8; Kum 4:31; Za 103:8; Kut 34:6; 22:27; Hes 14:18; Yoe 2:13Akamwomba Bwana, “Ee Bwana, hili si lile nililolisema nilipokuwa ningali nyumbani? Hii ndiyo sababu niliharikisha kukimbilia Tarshishi. Nikifahamu kuwa wewe ni Mungu mwenye neema na huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira na umejaa upendo, ni Mungu ambaye hughairi katika kupeleka maafa. 34:3 Hes 11:15; Ay 7:15; Yer 8:3; 1Fal 19:4Sasa, Ee Bwana, niondolee uhai wangu, kwa kuwa ni afadhali mimi nife kuliko kuishi.”
44:4 Mwa 4:6; Mt 20:11-15Lakini Bwana akamjibu, “Je unayo haki yoyote kukasirika?”
5Yona akatoka nje akaketi mahali upande wa mashariki wa mji. Hapo akajitengenezea kibanda, akaketi kwenye kivuli chake na kungojea ni nini kitakachotokea katika mji. 64:6 Yon 1:17Ndipo Bwana, Mungu akaweka tayari mzabibu na kuufanya uote, kumpa Yona kivuli kilichomfunika kichwa ili kuondoa taabu yake, naye Yona akafurahi sana kwa ajili ya ule mzabibu. 74:7 Yoe 1:12Lakini kesho yake asubuhi na mapema Mungu akaamuru buu, autafune mzabibu huo nao ukanyauka. 84:8 Za 121:6; 1Fal 19:4Wakati jua lilipochomoza, Mungu akautuma upepo wa hari wa mashariki, nalo jua likawaka juu ya kichwa cha Yona mpaka akazimia. Akatamani kufa, naye akasema, “Ni afadhali mimi nife kuliko kuishi.”
9Lakini Mungu alimwambia Yona, “Je, unayo haki kukasirika kuhusu mzabibu huo?”
Akasema, “Ndiyo, ninayo haki. Nimekasirika kiasi cha kufa.”
10Lakini Bwana akamwambia, “Wewe unakasirika kwa ajili ya mzabibu huu, nawe hukuusababisha kuota wala kuutunza. Uliota usiku mmoja, nao ukafa usiku mmoja. 114:11 Eze 33:11; Kum 1:39; Za 36:6; Yon 1:2; 3:2; 3:1Lakini Ninawi ina zaidi ya watu 120,000 ambao hawawezi kupambanua kulia au kushoto, pamoja na ngʼombe wengi. Je, hainipasi kufikiri juu ya mji ule mkubwa?”
