Jonah Gets Angry with the Lord
1 Jonah was really upset and angry. 2 So he prayed:
Our Lord, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't destroy Nineveh. That's why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don't like to punish anyone.
3 Now let me die! I'd be better off dead.
4 The Lord replied, “What right do you have to be angry?”
5 Jonah then left through the east gate of the city and made a shelter to protect himself from the sun. He sat under the shelter, waiting to see what would happen to Nineveh.
6 The Lord made a vine grow up to shade Jonah's head and protect him from the sun. Jonah was very happy to have the vine, 7 but early the next morning the Lord sent a worm to chew on the vine, and the vine dried up. 8 During the day the Lord sent a scorching wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head, making him feel faint. Jonah was ready to die, and he shouted, “I wish I were dead!”
9 But the Lord asked, “Jonah, do you have the right to be angry about the vine?”
“Yes, I do,” he answered, “and I'm angry enough to die.”
10 But the Lord said:
You are concerned about a vine that you did not plant or take care of, a vine that grew up in one night and died the next. 11 In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city?
Jonas dusmas
1 Bet Jonam tas briesmīgi derdzās, viņš aizsvilās dusmās 2 un lūdzās Kungu: “Ak, Kungs! Vai es to nesacīju, būdams vēl savā zemē? Tādēļ es steidzos bēgt uz Taršīšu! Es zināju, ka tu esi žēlīgs un līdzcietīgs Dievs, gauss dusmās, bet dāsns žēlastībā, un ka tu atstājies no ļauna! 3 Kungs, atņem jel man dvēseli, jo man labāk mirt nekā dzīvot!”
4 Un Kungs teica: “Vai tev piedien dusmot?” 5 Jona devās projām no pilsētas, apsēdās pilsētas austrumu pusē, darināja sev pajumi, apsēdās tās ēnā, lai redzētu, kas pilsētā notiks. 6 Un Kungs Dievs sūtīja ricinus stādu, lai tas aug pār Jonu, ka ēna kristu viņam uz galvas un paglābtu viņu no grūtuma, un Jona priecājās par šo ricinus stādu ar lielu prieku. 7 Bet nākamās dienas ausmā Dievs sūtīja tārpu, lai dur ricinus stādu, ka tas nokalst. 8 Kad uzlēca saule, Dievs sūtīja svelošu austrumvēju, un saule dūra Jonas galvu, un tas pagura un lūdzās savu dvēseli, lai tā mirtu, sacīdams: “Labāk man mirt nekā dzīvot!”
Dieva atbilde
9 Un Dievs teica Jonam: “Vai tev piedien dusmot ricinus stāda dēļ?” Un Jona teica: “Piedien man dusmot, ka mirstu!” 10 Un Kungs teica: “Tev žēl ricinus stāda, kura dēļ tu neesi pūlējies un ko neesi audzējis, kas izdīga vienā naktī un nākamajā naktī iznīka, – 11 un man lai nebūtu žēl lielās pilsētas Ninives, kur ir vairāk cilvēku nekā divpadsmit reiz desmit tūkstoši, kas nezina atšķirt savu labo roku no kreisās, un daudz lopu?!”
