7. He sent out a proclamation to the people of Nineveh: “This is an order from the king and his officials: no one is to eat anything; all persons, cattle, and sheep are forbidden to eat or drink.
8. All persons and animals must wear sackcloth. Everyone must pray earnestly to God and must give up his wicked behaviour and his evil actions.
9. Perhaps God will change his mind; perhaps he will stop being angry, and we will not die!”
10. God saw what they did; he saw that they had given up their wicked behaviour. So he changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would.