But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.

我所说的那一邦，若是转意离开他们的恶，我就必后悔，不将我想要施行的灾祸降与他们。

我所说的那一邦若回转离开他们的恶，我就改变心意，不将我想要施行的灾祸降与他们。

我所说的那一邦若回转离开他们的恶，我就改变心意，不将我想要施行的灾祸降与他们。

如果他们悔过自新，我必施怜悯，取消我原本要降给他们的灾祸。

如果我论到的那一邦转离他们的恶行，我就必回心转意，不把我原定的灾祸降给他们。

我所說的那一邦，若是轉意離開他們的惡，我就必後悔，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。

我所說的那一邦若回轉離開他們的惡，我就改變心意，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。

我所說的那一邦若回轉離開他們的惡，我就改變心意，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。

如果他們悔過自新，我必施憐憫，取消我原本要降給他們的災禍。

如果我論到的那一邦轉離他們的惡行，我就必回心轉意，不把我原定的災禍降給他們。

我所論到的那一邦若轉回離開他們的壞事，那我就後悔我想要降與他們的災禍了。

如彼邦族轉離其惡、我則回意、不降所言之災、

我所言之國、如改其惡行、則我亦改我旨、不降所欲降之災、

and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.

but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.

However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.

if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it.

if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

However, if that nation I have made an announcement about turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.

If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.

if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.

“ But suppose a sinful person turns away from all the sins they have committed. And they obey all my rules. They do what is fair and right. Then you can be sure they will live. They will not die.

The Lord continues,“ People of Ephraim, how can I give you up? Israel, how can I hand you over to your enemies? Can I destroy you as I did the town of Admah? Can I treat you like Zeboyim? My heart is stirred inside me. It is filled with pity for you.

So change the way you live and act. Obey the Lord your God. Then he won’t do what he said he would. He won’t bring on you the trouble he said he would bring.

Perhaps they will listen. Maybe they will turn from their evil ways. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on them. I had planned to punish them because of the evil things they had done.

When the Lord gave them a leader, he was with that leader. The Lord saved the people from the power of their enemies. He did it as long as the leader lived. The Lord felt very sorry for the people. They groaned because of what their enemies did to them. Their enemies treated them badly.

Don’t just tear your clothes to show how sad you are. Let your hearts be broken. Return to the Lord your God. He is gracious. He is tender and kind. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. He won’t bring his judgment. He won’t destroy you.Who knows? He might turn toward you and not bring his judgment. He might even give you his blessing. Then you can bring grain offerings and drink offerings to the Lord your God.

Who knows? God might take pity on us. He might not be angry with us anymore. Then we won’t die.”God saw what they did. He saw that they stopped doing what was evil. So he took pity on them. He didn’t destroy them as he had said he would.

So the Lord had pity on them.“ I will let them continue for now,” he said.The Lord and King gave me a second vision. He was using fire to punish his people. It dried up the deep waters. It burned the land up.Then I cried out,“ Lord and King, please stop! How can Jacob’s people continue? They are such a weak nation!”So the Lord had pity on them.“ I will let them continue for now,” the Lord and King said.

The God of Israel is speaking to you. He is the Lord who rules over all. He says,“ Change the way you live and act. Then I will let you live in this place.Do not trust in lies. Do not say,‘ This is the temple of the Lord! This is the temple of the Lord! This is the temple of the Lord!’You must really change the way you live and act. Treat one another fairly.Do not treat outsiders or widows badly in this place. Do not take advantage of children whose fathers have died. Do not kill those who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. Do not worship other gods. That will only bring harm to you.If you obey me, I will let you live in this place. It is the land I gave your people of long ago. It was promised to them for ever and ever.

I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too.Or what about the 18 people in Siloam? They died when the tower fell on them. Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too.”

Because they were his people, he remembered his covenant. Because of his great love, he felt sorry for them.

Why should the Egyptians say,‘ He brought them out to hurt them. He wanted to kill them in the mountains. He wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn away from your great anger. Please take pity on your people. Don’t destroy them!

Lord, please stop punishing us! How long will you keep it up? Be kind to us.

When the Lord hands down his sentence, it will be in his people’s favor. He will show deep concern for those who serve him.

Did King Hezekiah or anyone else in Judah put Micah to death? Hezekiah had respect for the Lord and tried to please him. And the Lord didn’t judge Jerusalem as he said he would. He didn’t bring on it the trouble he said he would bring. But we are about to bring horrible trouble on ourselves!”

He prayed to the Lord. Here is what Jonah said to him.“ Lord, isn’t this exactly what I thought would happen when I was still at home? That is what I tried to prevent by running away to Tarshish. I knew that you are gracious. You are tender and kind. You are slow to get angry. You are full of love. You are a God who takes pity on people. You don’t want to destroy them.

Suppose I tell a godly person that they will live. And they trust in the fact that they used to do what is right. But now they do what is evil. Then I will not remember any of the right things they have done. They will die because they have done so many evil things.

You have said no to me,” announces the Lord.“ You keep on turning away from me. So I will reach out and destroy you. I am tired of showing you pity.

The Lord will come to the aid of his people. He’ll show tender love to those who serve him. He will know when their strength is gone. He’ll see that no one at all is left.

The king and the leaders of Israel made themselves humble in the Lord’ s sight. They said,“ The Lord does what is right and fair.”

Tell them,‘ When sinful people die, it does not give me any joy. But when they turn away from their sins and live, that makes me very happy. And that is just as sure as I am alive,’ announces the Lord and King.‘ So turn away from your sins! Change your evil ways! Why should you die, people of Israel?’

So wash and make yourselves clean. Get your evil actions out of my sight! Stop doing what is wrong!Learn to do what is right! Treat people fairly. Help those who are treated badly. Stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. And do the same thing for widows.“ Come. Let us settle this matter,” says the Lord.“ Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.But you have to be willing to change and obey me. If you are, you will eat the good things that grow on the land.

The people of Judah will hear about all the trouble I plan to bring on them. Maybe then each of them will turn from their evil ways. If they do, I will forgive their sins and the evil things they have done.”

I had almost drowned in the waves. The deep waters were all around me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head.I sank down to the bottom of the mountains. I thought I had died and gone down into the grave forever. But you are the Lord my God. You brought my life up from the very edge of the pit of death.“ When my life was nearly over, I remembered you, Lord. My prayer rose up to you. It reached you in your holy temple in heaven.“ Some people worship the worthless statues of their gods. They turn away from God’s love for them.But I will sacrifice a thank offering to you. And I will shout with thankful praise. I will do what I have promised. I will say,‘ Lord, you are the one who saves.’ ”The Lord gave the fish a command. And it spit Jonah up onto dry land.

‘ Stay in this land. Then I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will plant you. I will not pull you up by the roots. I have decided to stop bringing trouble on you.

But the Israelites replied to the Lord,“ We have sinned. Do to us what you think is best. But please save us now.”Then they got rid of the false gods that were among them. They served the Lord. And he couldn’t stand to see Israel suffer anymore.

“ Suppose your people Israel have lost the battle against their enemies. And suppose they’ve sinned against you. But they turn back to you and praise your name. They pray to you in this temple. And they ask you to help them.Then listen to them from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave to their people who lived long ago.