1. The Lord spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said,
2. “Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done.”
3. Jonah immediately tried to run away from the Lord by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and went on board. He wanted to go to Tarshish to get away from the Lord.
4. The Lord sent a violent wind over the sea. The storm was so powerful that the ship was in danger of breaking up.