UJona
1 Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona *+ indodana ka-Amithayi, lithi: 2 “Sukuma uye eNineve, + idolobha elikhulu, umemezele isahlulelo salo ngoba ngibubonile ububi balo.”
3 Kodwa uJona wasukuma wabalekela uJehova waya eTharishishi; wehlela eJopha, wathola umkhumbi oya eTharishishi. Ngakho wakhokha imali yokugibela wangena emkhunjini ukuze ahambe nabo aye eTharishishi abalekele uJehova.
4 UJehova wabe esephonsa umoya omkhulu olwandle, kwaba khona isiphepho esikhulu olwandle kangangokuthi umkhumbi wawusuzophihlizeka. 5 Amatilosi ayethuke kakhulu kangangokuba ngalinye lawo laqala ukucela usizo kunkulunkulu walo. Aqala ukuphonsa olwandle izinto ezazisemkhunjini ukuze awenze ube lula. + Kodwa uJona wayesehlele phansi engxenyeni engaphakathi yomkhumbi,* lapho azumeka khona walala zwi. 6 Ukaputeni womkhumbi weza kuye wathi: “Ulaleleni? Vuka ubize unkulunkulu wakho! Mhlawumbe uNkulunkulu weqiniso uzosibonisa umusa singashabalali.” +
7 Ngemva kwalokho bathi komunye nomunye: “Wozani, masenze inkatho + ukuze sithole ukuthi ubani osifake kulolu taku.” Ngakho benza inkatho, inkatho yadla uJona. + 8 Bathi kuye: “Sicela usitshele ukuthi ubani obangele le nhlekelele esehlele? Wenza msebenzi muni futhi uvelaphi? Uvela kuliphi izwe futhi ungowasiphi isizwe?”
9 Waphendula wathi: “NgingumHebheru, ngesaba* uJehova uNkulunkulu wamazulu, Lowo owenza ulwandle nomhlabathi owomile.”
10 Lapho ezwa lokho, la madoda esaba nakakhulu, ayesembuza: “Wenzeni?” (La madoda ayesezwile ukuthi wayebalekela uJehova ngoba wayesewatshelile.) 11 Ngakho athi kuye: “Kufanele senzeni ngawe ukuze ulwandle luthule?” Ngoba ulwandle lwaluqhubeka luba nesiphepho nakakhulu. 12 Wathi kuwo: “Ngiphakamiseni ningiphonse olwandle, ulwandle luzothula; ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi lesi siphepho esikhulu sinehlela ngenxa yami.” 13 Nokho, la madoda agwedla ngamandla ukuze abuyisele umkhumbi emhlabathini owomile, kodwa awakwazanga ngoba ulwandle lwaluqhubeka luba nesiphepho nakakhulu.
14 Abe esebiza uJehova athi: “Manje siyakuncenga Jehova, sicela ukungabhubhi ngenxa yalo muntu! Ungasithwesi icala legazi lomuntu ongenacala njengoba wenze ngokuvumelana nentando yakho, O Jehova.” 15 Abe esemphakamisa uJona amphonsa olwandle; ulwandle lwazola. 16 La madoda amesaba kakhulu uJehova, + anikela umhlatshelo kuJehova enza nezifungo.
17 Manje uJehova wathumela inhlanzi enkulu ukuze igwinye uJona, uJona waba sesiswini sale nhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu. +