10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? (for the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them)

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? (for the sea wrought, and was troublous)

12 And he said unto them, Take me, and cast me into the sea: so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

13 Nevertheless the men rowed to bring it to the land, but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.

14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, [a]We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased from her raging.

16 Then the men [b]feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.

17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah: and Jonah was in the [c]belly of the fish three days and three nights.

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Footnotes

  1. Jonah 1:14 This declareth that the very wicked in their necessities flee unto God for succor and also that they are touched with a certain fear to shed man’s blood, whereas they know no manifest sign of wickedness.
  2. Jonah 1:16 They were touched with a certain repentance of their life past, and began to worship the true God by whom they saw themselves so wonderfully delivered: but this was done for fear, and not of a pure heart and affection, neither according to God’s word.
  3. Jonah 1:17 Thus the Lord would chastise his Prophet with a most terrible spectacle of death, and hereby also confirmed him of his favor and support in this his charge which was enjoined him.

10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”(A)

13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.(B) 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man,(C) for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.”(D) 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.(E) 16 At this the men greatly feared(F) the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows(G) to him.

Jonah’s Prayer

17 Now the Lord provided(H) a huge fish to swallow Jonah,(I) and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

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