Jonah 4:2

1 Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.

So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.

3 And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4 But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.
KJV
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.
WEB
He prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, LORD, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.
ASV
And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
DARBY
And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, Ah, Jehovah, was not this my saying when I was yet in my country? Therefore I was minded to flee at first unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
BLB
And he prayed to YHWH and said, “Ah, YHWH, was not this my word while I was in my own land? Upon thus, I acted beforehand to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that You [are] a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving devotion, and one who relents from disaster.
ÅB
Og han ba til Herren og sa: Å Herre! Var det ikke det jeg sa da jeg enda var i mitt land? Derfor flyktet jeg dengang til Tarsis; for jeg visste at du er en nådig og barmhjertig Gud, langmodig og rik på miskunnhet og angrer det onde.
OTB
Han ba til Herren: «Var det ikke det jeg sa, Herre, da jeg ennå var i mitt eget land? Derfor prøvde jeg å forhindre det ved å flykte til Tarsis. Jeg visste at du er en nådig og barmhjertig Gud, sen til vrede og rik på kjærlighet, en Gud som angrer ulykken.
B1930
Og han bad til Herren og sa: Å Herre! Var det ikke det jeg sa da jeg ennu var i mitt land? Derfor flydde jeg dengang til Tarsis; for jeg visste at du er en nådig og barmhjertig Gud, langmodig og rik på miskunnhet og angrer det onde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 86:15

    But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 34:6–7

    Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

    Read in context
  • Numbers 14:18–19

    ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

    Read in context
  • Joel 2:13–14

    So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 145:8

    The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 86:5

    For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

    Read in context
  • Micah 7:18

    Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

    Read in context
  • Exodus 32:14

    So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.

    Read in context