| 1 | 耶和華的話、二次臨到約拿說、
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: | |
| 2 | 你起來、往尼尼微大城去、向其中的居民宣告我所吩咐你的話。
"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." | |
| 3 | 約拿便照耶和華的話起來、往尼尼微去。這尼尼微是極大的城、有三日的路程。
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. | |
| 4 | 約拿進城走了一日、宣告說、再等四十日、尼尼微必傾覆了。
On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." | |
| 5 | 尼尼微人信服 神、便宣告禁食、從最大的到至小的都穿麻衣。〔或作披上麻布〕
The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. | |
| 6 | 這信息傳到尼尼微王的耳中、他就下了寶座、脫下朝服、披上麻布、坐在灰中。
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. | |
| 7 | 他又使人遍告尼尼微通城說、王和大臣有令、人不可嘗甚麼、牲畜、牛羊、不可喫草、也不可喝水。
Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. | |
| 8 | 人與牲畜都當披上麻布、人要切切求告 神.各人回頭離開所行的惡道、丟棄手中的強暴。
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. | |
| 9 | 或者 神轉意後悔、不發烈怒、使我們不至滅亡、也未可知。
Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." | |
| 10 | 於是 神察看他們的行為、見他們離開惡道、他就後悔、不把所說的災禍降與他們了。
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. | |