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Jonah

A prophet runs from God's call to preach to Nineveh but learns about mercy when the city repents.

Chapter 1

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1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

*Now, God spoke to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

*Get up and go to the big city of Nineveh. Tell them about their wrongdoings because I have seen them too.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

*But Jonah tried to run away from God by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and got on the boat to escape God.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

*But God caused a big wind in the sea, causing a huge storm, making the ship almost fall apart.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

*Then the sailors got scared and prayed to their gods while throwing cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. However, Jonah went below the deck and slept deeply.

6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

*The ship captain talked to him and asked, "What are you doing, sleepy one? Wake up, ask your God for help, if He can save us from sinking."

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

*They all asked each other, "Let's use chance to find out who's responsible for this trouble. So they did, and it turned out to be Jonah."

8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

*Then they asked him, "Please tell us why this bad thing happened to us. What do you do for a living? Where did you come from? Which country are you from? And what group of people do you belong to?"

9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

*He told them, "I'm a Hebrew. I respect the Lord, the God who created the sea and land."

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

*Then, the men were very scared and asked him, "Why did you do this?" They knew he ran away from God because he had warned them.

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

*They asked him, "What must we do to make the sea calm for us? Because it is angry and stormy."

12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

*He told them, "Pick me up and throw me into the water. Then the sea will be calm for you because I know this big storm is happening because of me."

13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

*However, the men worked hard to get the boat to shore, but they failed. The sea was rough and stormy, making it difficult for them.

14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

*So they called out to God and said, "Please, God, don't let us die because of this person's life, and don't make us have guilty hands. You, God, have done what you wanted to do."

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

*So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the water; then the water became calm.

16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

*Then, the people were very afraid of God, so they gave him a gift and promised to do good things for him.

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

*Now, God arranged a big fish to eat Jonah. Jonah stayed inside the fish's tummy for three days and three nights.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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