en_tn_condensed/jon/04/02.md

# Ah, Yahweh

The word "Ah" expresses Jonah's feeling of frustration.

# is this not just what I said when I was back in my own country?

Jonah used this rhetorical question to show God how angry he was. Also, what Jonah said when he was back in his own country can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "When I was still in my own country I knew that if I warned the people of Nineveh, they would repent, and you would not destroy them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# because I knew that you are a gracious God ... and you hold back from sending disaster

This was Jonah's reason for going to Tarshish instead of to Nineveh. He did not want to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there, because he did not want them to turn from their sins, and he did not want God to be kind to them.

# abounding in steadfast love
The abstract noun "love" can be expressed with the verb "love." Alternate translation: "always willing to love people without ceasing" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])

# you hold back from sending disaster

God sends disaster on sinners to punish them. But if sinners repent from their sin, he forgives them and does not send disaster. This implicit information can be expressed more clearly. Alternate translation: "you forgive people and do not send disaster on them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])