And he proclaimed and said through Nineveh, (by the counsel of the king and his nobles) saying, Let neither man, nor [a]beast, bullock nor sheep taste anything, neither feed nor drink water.

But let man and beast put on sackcloth, and [b]cry mightily unto God: yea, let every man turn from his evil way, and from the wickedness that is in their hands.

[c]Who can tell if God will turn, and repent and turn away from his fierce wrath, that we perish not?

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Footnotes

  1. Jonah 3:7 Not that the dumb beasts had sinned or could repent, but that by their example man might be astonished, considering that for his sin the anger of God hanged over all creatures.
  2. Jonah 3:8 He willed that the men should earnestly call unto God for mercy.
  3. Jonah 3:9 For partly by the threatening of the Prophet, and partly by the motion of his own conscience, he doubted whether God would show them mercy.

This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.(A) But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call(B) urgently on God. Let them give up(C) their evil ways(D) and their violence.(E) Who knows?(F) God may yet relent(G) and with compassion turn(H) from his fierce anger(I) so that we will not perish.”

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