1 L a palabra del Señor vino por segunda vez a Jonás:

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying,

2 “ Levántate, ve a Nínive, la gran ciudad, y proclama en ella el mensaje que Yo te diré.”

“Get up and go to the large city of Nineveh, and tell the people there the news which I am going to tell you.”

3 Y Jonás se levantó y fue a Nínive conforme a la palabra del Señor. Nínive era una ciudad muy grande, de un recorrido de tres días.

So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, as the Lord had told him. Now Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to walk through it.

4 E ntonces Jonás comenzó a recorrer la ciudad camino de un día, y proclamaba: “Dentro de cuarenta días Nínive será arrasada.”

Jonah started into the city, for a day’s walk, and he cried out, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!”

5 E ntonces los habitantes de Nínive creyeron en Dios, y proclamaron ayuno y se vistieron de cilicio desde el mayor hasta el menor de ellos.

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God. They called for a time when no food was to be eaten. And all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on clothes made from hair.

6 C uando llegó la noticia al rey de Nínive, se levantó de su trono, se despojó de su manto, se cubrió de cilicio y se sentó sobre ceniza.

When the news came to the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne and laid aside his beautiful clothing. Then he covered himself with cloth made from hair, and sat in ashes.

7 Y mandó proclamar y anunciar en Nínive, por decreto del rey y de sus grandes: “Ni hombre ni animales, ni buey ni oveja prueben cosa alguna. No dejen que pasten o beban agua.

And he sent word through all of Nineveh, saying, “By the law of the king and his leaders, do not let man or animal, cattle or flock, taste anything. Do not let them eat or drink water.

8 C úbranse de cilicio hombres y animales, y clamen a Dios con fuerza, y vuélvase cada uno de su mal camino y de la violencia que hay en sus manos.

Both man and animal must be covered with cloth made from hair. Everyone must pray to God with all his heart, so each person may turn from his sinful way and from the bad things he has done.

9 ¡ Quién sabe! Quizá Dios se vuelva, se arrepienta y aparte el ardor de Su ira, y no perezcamos.”

Who knows? God may change His mind and stop being angry so that we will not die.”

10 C uando Dios vio sus acciones, que se habían apartado de su mal camino, entonces Dios se arrepintió del mal que había dicho que les haría, y no lo hizo.

When God saw what they did, and that they turned from their sinful way, He changed His mind about the trouble He said He would bring upon them, and He did not destroy Nineveh.