UJona
3 Ilizwi likaJehova lafika kuJona okwesibili lathi:+ 2 “Hamba edolobheni elikhulu laseNiniva+ ufike umemezele lokho engikutshela khona.”
3 Ngakho uJona walalela ilizwi likaJehova+ waya eNiniva.+ Idolobho leli lalilikhulu kakhulu* futhi kwakuthatha amalanga amathathu ukulibhoda lonke ngenyawo. 4 UJona wangena edolobheni laseNiniva wahamba umango welanga elilodwa etshumayela esithi: “Sekusele amalanga angu-40 kuphela ukuthi iNiniva ibhujiswe.”
5 Abantu beNiniva bakholwa kuNkulunkulu,+ bamemezela ukuthi abantu bonke bazile njalo bagqoke izembatho zamasaka, kusukela komkhulu kusiya komncane. 6 Amazwi kaJona athi efika endlebeni zenkosi yeNiniva, yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi yakhulula izigqoko zayo zesikhosini yagqoka isembatho sesaka yahlala emlotheni. 7 Yasikhipha isimemezelo kulo lonke elaseNiniva yathi,
“Nanku umlayo wenkosi lezikhulu zayo: Akungabi lamuntu loba inyamazana loba isifuyo esizakudla loba yini. Akungadliwa lutho njalo kunganathwa manzi. 8 Bonke abantu kabagqoke izembatho zamasaka bembathise lezifuyo zabo. Kababize uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke njalo baphenduke ezenzweni zabo ezimbi lakulo lonke udlakela lwabo. 9 Mhlawumbe uNkulunkulu weqiniso angatshintsha ingqondo* angenzi lokho akuhlosileyo futhi aphenduke olakeni lwakhe oluvuthayo ukuze singatshabalali.”
10 UNkulunkulu weqiniso wathi ebona ukuthi babephendukile ezenzweni zabo ezimbi+ watshintsha ingqondo,* kasazange abehlisele umonakalo ayethe uzabehlisela wona.+