Eric that was a very interesting post, and could very well represent
what was going in Jonah's mind - he did have his own thoughts and
probably also own words that were not what God required.

However those words of Jonah that are recorded in scripture *must* be
from God, because the scripture itself says ...

2Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the *scripture* is
of any private interpretation.
2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

If you check the Hebrew word ("haphak" - Strongs 2015) for "overthrown"
that Jonah used - it also means "converted". So Jonah used a word under
the leading of God, that he thought meant "overthrown", but God made
that same word come true as "converted"!

Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he
cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be *overthrown*.

Even true prophets are not perfect in real life ...

1Cor 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Cor 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away.

in Jesus' Name,
Lester