Jonah 2

Contemporary English Version

Jonah's Prayer

2 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God:

²When I was in trouble, Lord,
I prayed to you,
    and you listened to me.
From deep in the world
    of the dead,
I begged for your help,
    and you answered my prayer.

³You threw me down
    to the bottom of the sea.
The water was churning
    all around;
I was completely covered
    by your mighty waves.
⁴I thought I was swept away
    from your sight,
never again to see
    your holy temple.

⁵I was almost drowned
by the swirling waters
    that surrounded me.
Seaweed had wrapped
    around my head.
⁶I had sunk down deep
    below the mountains
    beneath the sea.
I knew that forever,
    I would be a prisoner there.

But, you, Lord God,
    rescued me from that pit.
⁷When my life was slipping away,
    I remembered you—
and in your holy temple
    you heard my prayer.

⁸All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God
    who offers them mercy.
⁹But with shouts of praise,
I will offer a sacrifice
    to you, my Lord.
I will keep my promise,
because you are the one
    with power to save.