4And this^a was greatly displeasing^b to Jonah, and he became furious.^c ²And he prayed to Yahweh and said, “O Yahweh, was this not what I said^d while I was in my homeland? Therefore I originally fled^e to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and having great steadfast love,^f and one who relents concerning calamity.^g ³And so then, Yahweh, please take my life from me, because for me death is better than life!” ⁴And Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”^h

Read in Logos

Footnotes

aHebrew “it”
bLiterally “was displeasing with great displeasure”
cLiterally “it was hot for him”
dLiterally “my word”
eLiterally “I did the first time to flee”
fLiterally “and great of steadfast love”
gThat is, calamity sent by God as judgment
hLiterally “Rightfully is it hot for you”; some take this to mean “Are you so very angry?” (Targum Jonah 4:4; see also JPS, NEB, NET)

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the Lord, “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

NLTNew Living Translation

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

KJV 1900King James Version

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?

Public Domain