Jonah 3:10

Verse Jonah 3:10. And God saw their works] They repented, and brought forth fruits meet for repentance; works which showed that they did most earnestly repent. He therefore changed his purpose, and the city was saved. The purpose was: If the Ninevites do not return from their evil ways, and the violence that is in their hands, within forty days, I will destroy the city. The Ninevites did return, c., and therefore escaped the threatened judgment. Thus we see that the threatening was conditional.