Study Desk

"Come!" said the sailors to one another. "Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Now the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, "What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?"

"Pick me up," he answered, "and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you."

So they cried out to the LORD: "Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man's life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased."

Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish."

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.

So the LORD God appointed a vine, and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah's head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.

When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered.

As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, "It is better for me to die than to live."

So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?"

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: "I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

And many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn. So He will deliver us when Assyria invades our land, and tramples our citadels.

I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands.

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD."

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook; they catch them in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net; so they are glad and rejoice.

Then the LORD answered me: "Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.

So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, having caves filled with shepherds and folds with sheep.