Jonah 3:4-9

When Jonah entered the city, he walked a day’s journey and began to preach: “God will destroy this city in forty days!” The people of Nineveh believed Jonah’s message and turned to God. To show they had repented, they called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes. He then issued this proclamation: “People of Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles, no person or animal, herd or flock, may eat anything; they must not consume any food or water. Each of you must cover yourself and your livestock with burlap and call on God with all your might. Everyone must turn away from his or her evil ways and violent behavior. Who knows? Perhaps God may show us mercy and be willing to change his mind. Perhaps he will relent and turn from unleashing his fierce anger so that we will not die.”