Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah saying
“Go preach to Nineveh, they’re disobeying.” 

But Jonah fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord
On a ship down in Joppa, paid the fare, went aboard

The Lord sent a mighty tempest out over the the deep
Jonah was down in the hold fast asleep

The captain came down, he said “Open your eyes!
Cry out to your God that we might not die!”

The men on the boat gathered, they cast lots on the deck
To find who was responsible for the potential shipwreck

The lot fell on Jonah, they said “Who are you?
Where are you from? And what did you do?”

Jonah told them, “I’m a Hebrew and from God I ran,
From the one who made all the seas and dry land.”

The men were afraid they said, “What have you done?
Why didn’t you obey God? Why did you run?”

The storm raged harder all around
They asked Jonah, “What must we do for the sea to quiet down?”

“Throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm.
For I know it’s my fault that this storm rages on.”

The men, not wanting to kill Jonah, tried to row back to shore
But the sea grew even wilder than it was before

They pleaded with God, “Lord don’t let us die,
Or hold us accountable for taking an innocent man’s life!”

Then they took Jonah, threw him off the vessel
As soon as that happened, the sea became tranquil

The Lord provided for Jonah, he’d live to tell the tale
After spending three days and nights in the belly of a whale

From inside the fish, Jonah prayed
God listened to Jonah and came to his aid
He commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land
Told Jonah to go to Nineveh as He originally planned

This time Jonah the prophet obeyed
Went through the city, it took him three days

As he went, he proclaimed “Let it be known.
In forty more days Nineveh will be overthrown.”

The Ninevites believed God, became contrite
They wore sackcloths, and fasted all day and all night

Jonah’s warning eventually reached the king
He removed his robes and sat down in the dust proclaiming

“Let it be known by royal decree:
All men are to fast and get down on their knees.

Give up evil ways and violence. Repent!
For God in his mercy might yet relent.”

God had compassion when saw this earnest display
From the promised destruction His hand was stayed

But to Jonah, all of this seemed very wrong 
Angrily he said, “I knew you would do this all along!

You are a gracious God, compassionate too
Abounding in love in all that you do

Now, take away my life, for it’s better I die.”
“Must you be angry?” was the Lord’s reply

Then Jonah went east of the city to watch with a frown
He built a shelter and haughtily sat down

The Lord God provided Jonah with some shade
To protect Jonah’s head a leafy plant God made

The plant made Jonah very happy
But what happened next made him quite snappy

God sent a worm at dawn on the following day
The worm chewed the plant and it withered away

When the sun rose, a scorching wind came
It was so hot it nearly made Jonah faint

“Just let me die Lord,” again he expressed
“Kill me so I can at last have rest.”

“Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” God said
Jonah replied, “Yes, I’m so angry I wish I were dead!”

The Lord answered, “Jonah, there is a lesson here you haven’t learned.
About this plant you were greatly concerned.

Yet you did not tend it, or make it grow
It sprang up and died overnight, you know?

Considering this, should Nineveh not have my pity?
Much more than a plant, it is a great city

One hundred and twenty thousand people there will not perish
For it’s a repentant heart that I cherish.”