< UJona 3 >
1 Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kuJona ngokwesibili, lisithi:
Ipapo shoko raJehovha rakasvika kuna Jona kechipiri richiti,
2 Sukuma, uye eNineve, lowana umuzi omkhulu, utshumayele kuwo intshumayelo engikutshela yona.
“Enda kuguta reNinevhe undoriparidzira shoko randinokupa.”
3 UJona wasesukuma, waya eNineve, njengokwelizwi leNkosi. Phela iNineve yayingumuzi omkhulu kakhulu, uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu.
Jona akateerera shoko raJehovha akaenda kuNinevhe. Zvino Ninevhe raiva guta guru kwazvo, rwendo rwamazuva matatu.
4 UJona waseqala ukungena emzini, uhambo losuku olulodwa. Wamemeza, wathi: Kusesezinsuku ezingamatshumi amane, khona iNineve izagenqulwa.
Pazuva rokutanga Jona akapinda muguta. Akaparidza achiti, “Kwasara mazuva makumi mana, mushure maizvozvo Ninevhe richaparadzwa.”
5 Abantu beNineve basebekholwa kuNkulunkulu, bamemezela ukuzila ukudla, bagqoka amasaka, kusukela komkhulu wabo kwaze kwaba komncinyane wabo.
Vanhu veNinevhe vakatenda kuna Mwari. Vakatara nguva yokutsanya, uye vose zvavo, kubva kumukuru mukuru kusvikira kumuduku duku vakapfeka masaga.
6 Ngoba ilizwi lafinyelela enkosini yeNineve; yasisukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yakhulula isembatho sayo kuyo, yazimbomboza ngesaka, yahlala emlotheni.
Nhau idzi padzakasvika kuna mambo weNinevhe, akasimuka kubva pachigaro chake, akabvisa nguo dzake dzoumambo, akazvifukidza namasaga akagara mumadota.
7 Yasimemezela yathi kuyo iNineve ngomthetho wenkosi labakhulu bayo, isithi: Kakungabi lomuntu, kumbe inyamazana, inkomo kumbe imvu, okuzanambitha loba yini; kakungadli, kakunganathi amanzi.
Ipapo akazivisa chirevo muNinevhe, achiti: “Chirevo chamambo namachinda ake: “Musarega munhu kana mhuka, chipfuwo kana gwai, zvichiravira chinhu; musazvirega zvichidya kana kunwa.
8 Kodwa kakuthi umuntu lenyamazana kwembeswe amasaka, bakhale kuNkulunkulu ngamandla, yebo, baphenduke, ngulowo lalowo endleleni yakhe embi, lodlakeleni olusezandleni zabo.
Asi vanhu nemhuka ngavafuke masaga. Munhu wose ngaadane kuna Mwari iye zvino. Ngavasiye nzira dzavo dzakaipa nokuita kwavo nechisimba.
9 Ngubani owaziyo, uNkulunkulu angaphenduka azisole, aphenduke asuke kukuvutha kolaka lwakhe, ukuze singabhubhi.
Ndiani anoziva? Zvichida Mwari angazvidemba uye netsitsi dzake akazvidzora kubva pakutsamwa kwake kunotyisa kuti tirege kuparara.”
10 UNkulunkulu wasebona imisebenzi yabo, ukuthi baphendukile endleleni yabo embi; uNkulunkulu wazisola ngobubi ayethe uzabenza kubo, akaze abenza.
Mwari akati aona zvavakaita uye kutendeuka kwavakaita kubva panzira dzavo dzakaipa, akavanzwira tsitsi akasauyisa kuparadzwa pamusoro pavo sezvaaida kuvaitira.