1 Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi:
2 “Suka uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, umemeze phezu kwalo, ngokuba ububi balo benyukele ebusweni bami.”
3 Kepha uJona wasuka ebusweni bukaJehova ukuba abalekele eTharishishi, wehlela eJopha, wafumana umkhumbi obuyakuya eTharishishi; wakhokha imali yawo, wakhwela kuwo, ukuba ahambe nawo, aye eTharishishi, asuke ebusweni bukaJehova.
4 Kodwa uJehova waphonsa umoya omkhulu elwandle, kwaba yisiphepho esikhulu elwandle; kwacatshangwa ukuthi umkhumbi uyakwaphulwa.
5 Khona amatilosi* esaba, akhala, kwaba yilelo nalelo kunkulunkulu walo, aphonsa elwandle impahla ebisemkhunjini ukuba ube lula kubo. Kepha uJona wayehlele phakathi komkhumbi, wayeselele ubuthongo.
6 Kwase kusondela kuye induna yomkhumbi, yathi: “Unani wena olele ubuthongo na? Vuka, ubize uNkulunkulu wakho; mhlawumbe lo Nkulunkulu uyakusikhumbula ukuba singabhubhi.”
7 Bathi, kwaba yilowo nalowo kumngane wakhe: “Wozani senze inkatho, sazi ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu.” Base benza inkatho; inkatho yamudla uJona.
8 Base bethi kuye: “Ake usitshele ukuthi kungenxa kabani lobu bubi buphezu kwethu. Umsebenzi wakho uyini? Uvelaphi? Liphi izwe lakini, ungowasiphi isizwe na?”
9 Wathi kubo: “NgingumHeberu; ngiyamesaba uJehova, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owenzile ulwandle nomhlabathi owomileyo.”
10 Base besaba abantu ngokwesaba okukhulu, bathi kuye: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzileyo na?” Ngokuba base bazi ukuthi ubalekile ebusweni bukaJehova, lokhu ebatshelile.
11 Base bethi kuye: “Siyakwenze njani kuwe, ukuze ulwandle luthule kithina,” ngokuba ulwandle luyaqhubeka lube nesivunguvungu.
12 Wathi kubo: “Ngiphakamiseni, ningiphonse elwandle, bese luthula kini ulwandle, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi lesi siphepho esikhulu siphezu kwenu ngenxa yami.”
13 Kepha amadoda agwedla ukuba abuyele emhlabathini, kepha ahluleka, ngokuba ulwandle lwaqhubeka lwaba nesiphepho kuwo.
14 Ayesekhala kuJehova, athi: “Siyakuncenga: masingabhubhi ngenxa yalo muntu, ungabeki phezu kwethu igazi elingenacala, ngokuba wena Jehova wenzile njengokuhlosa kwakho.”
15 Amphakamisa uJona, amphonsa elwandle; ulwandle lwase lupheza ukufutha.
16 Amadoda ayesesaba uJehova ngokwesaba okukhulu; ahlabela uJehova umhlatshelo, enza izithembiso.
17 UJehova wamisela inhlanzi enkulu ukuba imgwinye uJona; uJona wayesezibilinini zenhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.