4:1 This terribly displeased1 Jonah and he became very angry.2 4:2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought3 would happen4 when I was in my own country.5 This is what I tried to prevent6 by trying to escape to Tarshish!7—because I knew8 that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger9 and abounding10 in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.11 4:3 So now, Lord, kill me instead,12 because I would rather die than live!”13 4:4 The Lord said, “Are you really so very14 angry?”15

4:5 Jonah left the city, sat down east16 of the city, made a shelter for himself there, and sat down under it in the shade to see what would happen to the city.17 4:6 The Lord God appointed18 a little plant19 and caused it to grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue20 him from his misery.21 Now Jonah was very delighted22 about the little plant.

4:7 So God sent23 a worm at dawn the next day, and it attacked the little plant so that it dried up. 4:8 When the sun began to shine, God sent24 a hot25 east wind. So the sun beat down26 on Jonah’s head, and he grew faint. So he despaired of life,27 and said, “ I would rather die than live!”28 4:9 God said to Jonah, “Are you really so very angry29 about the little plant?” And he said, “ I am as angry30 as I could possibly be!”31 4:10 The Lord said, “You were upset32 about this little33 plant, something for which you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the next day.34 4:11 Should I35 not be even more36 concerned37 about Nineveh this enormous city?38 There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong,39 as well as many animals!”40