Jonah 1:12-3:3

New International Version

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)

¹³Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.^(B) 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,^(C) for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.”^(D) ¹⁵Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.^(E) ¹⁶At 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

¹⁷Now 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. 2 ¹^[a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ²He said:

“In my distress I called^(J) to the Lord,^(K)
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead^(L) I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
³You hurled me into the depths,^(M)
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves^(N) and breakers
    swept over me.^(O)
⁴I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;^(P)
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’^(Q)
⁵The engulfing waters threatened me,^[b]
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.^(R)
⁶To the roots of the mountains^(S) I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.^(T)

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

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