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Then the LORD spoke his word to Jonah a second time. He said,
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"Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people the message I have given you."
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Jonah immediately went to Nineveh as the LORD told him. Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to walk through it.
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Jonah entered the city and walked for about a day. Then he said, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed."
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The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone, from the most important to the least important, dressed in sackcloth.
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When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
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Then he made this announcement and sent it throughout the city: "This is an order from the king and his nobles: No one is to eat or drink anything. This includes all people, animals, cattle, and sheep.
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Every person and animal must put on sackcloth. Cry loudly to God for help. Turn from your wicked ways and your acts of violence.
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Who knows? God may reconsider his plans and turn from his burning anger so that we won't die."