Jonah 1:1-3

New International Reader's Version

Jonah Runs Away From the Lord

1 A message from the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai. The Lord said, ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh. Preach against it. The sins of its people have come to my attention.”

³ But Jonah ran away from the Lord. He headed for Tarshish. So he went down to the port of Joppa. There he found a ship that was going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board. Then he sailed for Tarshish. He was running away from the Lord.