Verse 1

With the Ninevites God was so angry

when He proclaimed to them

He would destroy their city.

But they declared a fast,

wore sackcloth and ashes,

and God’s heart softened,

His heart changed.

God’s anger for the Ninevites,

changed to mercy, tolerance,

because of their confession,

because of their repentance.

Chorus

When God is angry with man,

He hopes to see them truly repent,

He’ll then bestow His mercy.

God’s wrath comes because of man’s evil.

Upon those who listen to God, repent,

turn away from their evil ways

and abandon all their violence,

His mercy and tolerance are bestowed.

Verse 2

No contradiction in this revelation

of God’s dispositions.

God expressed these different substances

before and after the Ninevites repented;

God’s essence was revealed.

And so people are allowed to see

God’s substance and its realness,

God’s substance shown to be impossible to offend.

Chorus

When God is angry with man,

He hopes to see them truly repent,

He’ll then bestow His mercy.

God’s wrath comes because of man’s evil.

Upon those who listen to God, repent,

turn away from their evil ways

and abandon all their violence,

His mercy and tolerance are bestowed.

Verse 3

God used His attitude to tell

the people the following:

It’s not that God does not

want to show His mercy,

but rather, few truly repent

and leave their violence,

rarely from their evil they turn.

God’s treatment of the Ninevites

reveals His mercy can be obtained.

If man repents and leaves evil,

God’s heart toward them will change.

Chorus

When God is angry with man,

He hopes to see them truly repent,

He’ll then bestow His mercy.

God’s wrath comes because of man’s evil.

Upon those who listen to God, repent,

turn away from their evil ways

and abandon all their violence,

His mercy and tolerance are bestowed.

Adapted from The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God Himself, the Unique II