The Prophet Jonah

Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh his God from the fish’s stomach.

He said, “I called out to Yahweh about my distress and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried out for help! You heard my voice.

You had thrown me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the currents surrounded me; all your waves and billows passed over me.

I said, ’I am driven out from before your eyes; yet I will again look toward your holy temple.’

The waters closed around me up to my neck; the deep was all around me; seaweed wrapped around my head.

I went down to the bases of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed upon me forever. Yet you brought up my life from the pit, Yahweh, my God!

When my soul fainted within me, I called Yahweh to mind; then my prayer came to you, to your holy temple.

Those who pay attention to useless gods reject your faithfulness toward themselves.

But as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving; I will fulfill that which I have vowed. Salvation comes from Yahweh!”

Then Yahweh spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah upon the dry land.

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God, out of the fish’s belly.

He said, “I called because of my affliction to the LORD. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol(a) I cried. You heard my voice.

For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

The waters surrounded me, even to the soul. The deep was around me. The weeds were wrapped around my head.

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains. The earth barred me in forever; yet you have brought my life up from the pit, LORD my God.

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD. My prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.

Those who regard vain idols forsake their own mercy.

But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.”

Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land.

(a)2:2 Sheol is the place of the dead.