1 N ow the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,

2 “ Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

3 S o Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.

4 A nd Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” The People of Nineveh Believe

5 S o the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

6 T hen word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

7 A nd he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.

8 B ut let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

9 W ho can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

10 T hen God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.