1 Izwi likaJehova lafika kuJona ngokwesibili, lathi:
2 “Suka uye eNineve, umuzi omkhulu, umemezele kulo isimemezelo esikhulu engasikhuluma kuwe.”
3 Wayesesuka uJona, waya eNineve njengezwi likaJehova. INineve lalingumuzi omkhulu kakhulu, uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu.
4 UJona waqala ukungena emzini, uhambo losuku lwaba lunye, wamemeza wathi: “Kusezakuba yizinsuku ezingamashumi amane, bese lichithwa iNineve.”
5 Abantu baseNineve bakholwa nguNkulunkulu; bamemezela ukuzila ukudla, bembatha izindwangu zamasaka, kusukela kwabakhulu babo kwaze kwaba kwabancane.
6 Kepha izwi lafinyelela enkosini yaseNineve; yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yakhumula ingubo yayo, yazimboza ngendwangu yamasaka, yahlala phansi emlotheni.
7 Yamemezela, yasho eNineve ngomthetho wenkosi nabakhulu bayo, yathi: “Makungabikho muntu onambitha utho, nasilwane, nankomo, namvu, bangadli, bangaphuzi manzi,
8 kepha bambozwe ngendwangu yamasaka, umuntu nesilwane, kukhalwe kuNkulunkulu ngamandla, yebo, kubuyiswe yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi nasebudloveni obusezandleni zakhe.
9 Ngubani owaziyo uma uNkulunkulu engayikubuya, azisole, abuye ekufutheni kwentukuthelo yakhe, size singabhubhi, na?”
10 Lapho uNkulunkulu esebona izenzo zabo ukuthi babuya endleleni yabo embi, uNkulunkulu wazisola ngokubi owayeshilo ukuthi uyakukwenza kubo, akakwenzanga.