Jonah 4 - New Century Version (NCV)

God’s Mercy Makes Jonah Angry

4 But this made Jonah very unhappy, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “When I was still in my own country this is what I said would happen, and that is why I quickly ran away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don’t become angry quickly, and you have great love. I knew you would choose not to cause harm. 3 So now I ask you, Lord, please kill me. It is better for me to die than to live.”

4 Then the Lord said, “Do you think it is right for you to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out and sat down east of the city. There he made a shelter for himself and sat in the shade, waiting to see what would happen to the city. 6 The Lord made a plant grow quickly up over Jonah, which gave him shade and helped him to be more comfortable. Jonah was very pleased to have the plant. 7 But the next day when the sun rose, God sent a worm to attack the plant so that it died.

8 As the sun rose higher in the sky, God sent a very hot east wind to blow, and the sun became so hot on Jonah’s head that he became very weak and wished he were dead. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you think it is right for you to be angry about the plant?”

Jonah answered, “It is right for me to be angry! I am so angry I could die!”

10 And the Lord said, “You are so concerned for that plant even though you did nothing to make it grow. It appeared one day, and the next day it died. 11 Then shouldn’t I show concern for the great city Nineveh, which has more than one hundred twenty thousand people who do not know right from wrong, and many animals, too?”

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Jonah 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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Jonah 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

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Jonah 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 He prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please, Yahweh, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving...
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Jonah 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Jonah 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Jonah’s Displeasure at God’s Mercy4 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he resented it. 2 So he prayed to Adonai and said, “Please, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my own country? That’s what I anticipated, fleeing to Tarshish—for I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate ...
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Jonah 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Jonah’s Anger4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “I pray thee, Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, an...
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Jonah 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Jonah’s Anger4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “I pray thee, Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, an...
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Jonah 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Jonah’s Anger4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, an...
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Jonah 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Jonah’s Anger4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, an...
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Jonah 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jonah’s Anger4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.(A)2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, a...
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Jonah 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Mercy4 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slo...
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Jonah 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Loving-Pity4 But Jonah was not pleased at all, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is this not what I said You would do while still in my own country? That is why I ran away to Tarshish. For I knew that You are a kind and loving God Who shows...
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Jonah 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I (A)fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a (B)gracious and merciful God, s...
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Jonah 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Jonah’s anger at the Lord’s compassion4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to...
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Jonah 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.(A) 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew(B) that you are a gracious(C) and compassionate God,...
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Jonah 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Jonah Is Angry That the Lord Spares Nineveh4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong. He became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord. Here is what Jonah said to him. “Lord, isn’t this exactly what I thought would happen when I was still at home? That is what I tried to prevent by running away to Tarshish. I ...
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Jonah 4 - New English Translation (NET)

Jonah Responds to God’s Kindness4 This displeased Jonah terribly[a] and he became very angry.[b] 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought[c] would happen[d] when I was in my own country.[e] This is what I tried to prevent[f] by attempting to escape to Tarshish,[g] be...
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