1 And the LORD’s {YHWH, Merciful Recaller} word {dvar: prophetic message} came to Jonah a second time, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and call to her the proclamation {qeri’ah: public declaration} that I {anokhi: emphatic I} am speaking to you.
3 And Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD {YHWH, Commanding King}. Now Nineveh was a great city in God’s {Elohim, All-Seeing One} sight, a journey of three days.
4 And Jonah began to enter the city, a day's journey {mahalakh: travel distance}, and he called out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh {ninveh: Assyrian metropolis} will be overthrown.”
5 And the people of Nineveh believed in God {Elohim, Righteous Judge}, and they proclaimed a fast {tsom: ritual fasting}, and they put on sackcloths from the greatest among them to the least.
6 The word {davar: official decree} reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe {adaret: royal garment}, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the ashes.
7 And he proclaimed and said in Nineveh, “By the decree of the king {melekh: royal authority} and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock {tson: small livestock} taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water.”
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and let them call out with strength to God {Elohim, Merciful Judge}, and let each one turn from his evil way and from the violence {hamas: wrongful force} in their hands.
9 Who knows? God {Elohim, Merciful Judge} may turn and relent and turn back from His burning anger {charon: blazing wrath}, and we will not perish.
10 And God {Elohim, Just Observer} saw their deeds, that they turned back from their evil way {derek: life direction}, and He relented concerning the disaster, which He had spoken to do to them, and He did not do it.