UJona 4
Ukusola kukaJona
1Kepha lokho kwaba kubi kakhulu kuJona, wathukuthela. 2Wakhuleka kuJehova, wathi: “Ngiyakuncenga, Jehova; lokho kwakungesilo izwi lami ngisekhona ezweni lakithi na? Ngalokho ngakwandulela ngokubalekela eTharishishi, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onomusa nobumnene, wephuza ukuthukuthela, unesihe esikhulu, uzisola ngokubi; 3ngalokho, Jehova, ake ususe kimi ukuphila kwami, ngokuba kungcono kimi ukufa kunokuphila.”
4Wayesethi uJehova: “Wenza kahle ngokuthukuthela na?”
5UJona wayesephuma emzini, wahlala ngasempumalanga komuzi, wazenzela idokodo khona, wahlala phansi kwalo emthunzini, ukuze abone ukuthi kuyakwenziwa njani kuwo umuzi. 6UJehova uNkulunkulu walungisela umhlakuva, wawukhulisa phezu kukaJona ukuba ube ngumthunzi phezu kwekhanda lakhe ukumophula kokubi kwakhe. UJona wathokoza ngomhlakuva ngokuthokoza okukhulu.
7Kepha sekuzakuvela ukusa ngangomuso uNkulunkulu walungisela impehlwa; yawuphehla umhlakuva, wabuna. 8Kwathi ekuphumeni kwelanga uNkulunkulu walungisela umoya oshisayo wasempumalanga; ilanga lashaya ekhanda likaJona, waba nesiyezi, wazicelela ukuba afe, wathi: “Kungcono kimi ukufa kunokuphila.”
9Wayesethi uNkulunkulu kuJona: “Wenza kahle ngokuthukuthela ngenxa yomhlakuva na?”
Wathi: “Ngenza kahle ngokuthukuthela kuze kube sekufeni.”
10Wayesethi uJehova: “Wena wawuhawukela umhlakuva ongawukhandlekelanga nongawukhulisanga, owamila ebusuku bunye, wabhubha ebusuku bunye; 11mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela iNineve, umuzi omkhulu, okukuwo abantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sokunene nesokhohlo, kanye nezinkomo eziningi, na?”
© Bible Society of South Africa 1959, 1997. Used with permission. All rights reserved.