Jonah 1

New International Version

Jonah Flees From the Lord

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah^(A) son of Amittai:^(B) ²“Go to the great city of Nineveh^(C) and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³But Jonah ran^(D) away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish^(E). He went down to Joppa,^(F) where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.^(G)

⁴Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.^(H) ⁵All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.^(I)

But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. ⁶The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call^(J) on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”^(K)

⁷Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.”^(L) They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.^(M) ⁸So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

⁹He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord,^(N) the God of heaven,^(O) who made the sea^(P) and the dry land.^(Q)”

¹⁰This 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.)

¹¹The 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.”^(R)

¹³Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.^(S) ¹⁴Then 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,^(T) for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.”^(U) ¹⁵Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.^(V) ¹⁶At this the men greatly feared^(W) the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows^(X) to him.

Jonah’s Prayer

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

Jonah 2

New International Version

2 ¹^[a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ²He said:

“In my distress I called^(A) to the Lord,^(B)
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead^(C) I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
³You hurled me into the depths,^(D)
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves^(E) and breakers
    swept over me.^(F)
⁴I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;^(G)
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’^(H)
⁵The engulfing waters threatened me,^[b]
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.^(I)
⁶To the roots of the mountains^(J) I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.^(K)

⁷“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered^(L) you, Lord,
and my prayer^(M) rose to you,
to your holy temple.^(N)

⁸“Those who cling to worthless idols^(O)
    turn away from God’s love for them.
⁹But I, with shouts of grateful praise,^(P)
    will sacrifice^(Q) to you.
What I have vowed^(R) I will make good.
    I will say, ‘Salvation^(S) comes from the Lord.’”

¹⁰And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Footnotes

Jonah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1 is numbered 1:17, and 2:1-10 is numbered 2:2-11.
Jonah 2:5 Or waters were at my throat

Psalm 119:33-72

New International Version

ה He

³³Teach me,^(A) Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.^[a]
³⁴Give me understanding,^(B) so that I may keep your law^(C)
    and obey it with all my heart.^(D)
³⁵Direct me^(E) in the path of your commands,^(F)
    for there I find delight.^(G)
³⁶Turn my heart^(H) toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.^(I)
³⁷Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life^(J) according to your word.^[b]^(K)
³⁸Fulfill your promise^(L) to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
³⁹Take away the disgrace^(M) I dread,
    for your laws are good.
⁴⁰How I long^(N) for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.^(O)

ו Waw

⁴¹May your unfailing love^(P) come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;^(Q)
⁴²then I can answer^(R) anyone who taunts me,^(S)
    for I trust in your word.
⁴³Never take your word of truth from my mouth,^(T)
    for I have put my hope^(U) in your laws.
⁴⁴I will always obey your law,^(V)
    for ever and ever.
⁴⁵I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.^(W)
⁴⁶I will speak of your statutes before kings^(X)
    and will not be put to shame,^(Y)
⁴⁷for I delight^(Z) in your commands
    because I love them.^(AA)
⁴⁸I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate^(AB) on your decrees.

ז Zayin

⁴⁹Remember your word^(AC) to your servant,
    for you have given me hope.^(AD)
⁵⁰My comfort in my suffering is this:
    Your promise preserves my life.^(AE)
⁵¹The arrogant mock me^(AF) unmercifully,
    but I do not turn^(AG) from your law.
⁵²I remember,^(AH) Lord, your ancient laws,
    and I find comfort in them.
⁵³Indignation grips me^(AI) because of the wicked,
    who have forsaken your law.^(AJ)
⁵⁴Your decrees are the theme of my song^(AK)
    wherever I lodge.
⁵⁵In the night, Lord, I remember^(AL) your name,
    that I may keep your law.^(AM)
⁵⁶This has been my practice:
    I obey your precepts.^(AN)

ח Heth

⁵⁷You are my portion,^(AO) Lord;
    I have promised to obey your words.^(AP)
⁵⁸I have sought^(AQ) your face with all my heart;
    be gracious to me^(AR) according to your promise.^(AS)
⁵⁹I have considered my ways^(AT)
    and have turned my steps to your statutes.
⁶⁰I will hasten and not delay
    to obey your commands.^(AU)
⁶¹Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
    I will not forget^(AV) your law.
⁶²At midnight^(AW) I rise to give you thanks
    for your righteous laws.^(AX)
⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you,^(AY)
    to all who follow your precepts.^(AZ)
⁶⁴The earth is filled with your love,^(BA) Lord;
    teach me your decrees.^(BB)

ט Teth

⁶⁵Do good^(BC) to your servant
    according to your word,^(BD) Lord.
⁶⁶Teach me knowledge^(BE) and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted^(BF) I went astray,^(BG)
    but now I obey your word.^(BH)
⁶⁸You are good,^(BI) and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees.^(BJ)
⁶⁹Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,^(BK)
    I keep your precepts with all my heart.
⁷⁰Their hearts are callous^(BL) and unfeeling,
    but I delight in your law.
⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted^(BM)
    so that I might learn your decrees.
⁷²The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.^(BN)

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Footnotes

Psalm 119:33 Or follow it for its reward
Psalm 119:37 Two manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text life in your way