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¶ Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,

and said, I cried by reason of my tribulation unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice.

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will see thy holy temple again.

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul, the depth closed me round about; the weeds were wrapped about my head.

I descended to the roots of the mountains; the earth put her bars about me for ever; yet thou hast brought up my life out of the grave, O LORD my God.

When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer entered in unto thee in thy holy temple.

Those that observe lying vanities forsake his mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed; that saving comes of the LORD.

10 ¶ And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Jonah’s Prayer

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish. He said the following:

    In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
    From the belly of the grave I cried out,
    and you heard my voice.
You threw me into the depths,
    into the heart of the seas.
    The currents swept around[a] me.
    All your breakers and your waves swept over me.
I said, “I have been driven away from your sight.
    Nevertheless, I will once again look toward your holy temple.”
Waters engulfed me so that I was near death.
    The deep surrounded me.
    Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down.
    The earth locked me behind its bars forever.
    But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord, my God.
When my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord.
    My prayer came to you, to your holy temple.
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake the mercy that is theirs.
But I, with a shout of thanksgiving, will indeed sacrifice to you.
    What I have vowed, I will certainly pay in full.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!

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

Footnotes

  1. Jonah 2:3 The Hebrew word can mean surround with protection, but the context seems to refer to something threatenin g.

Jonah’s Prayer and God’s Answer

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said:

“I (A)cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
(B)And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
(C)For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
(D)All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
(E)Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again (F)toward Your holy temple.’
The (G)waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
I went down to the [a]moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my (H)life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.

“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
(I)And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.

“Those who regard (J)worthless idols
Forsake their own [b]Mercy.
But I will (K)sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have (L)vowed.
(M)Salvation is of the (N)Lord.”

10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Footnotes

  1. Jonah 2:6 foundations or bases
  2. Jonah 2:8 Or Lovingkindness