1 Jonah is in the fish’s belly. 2 His prayer. 10 He is delivered.

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God [a]out of the fish’s belly,

And said, I cried in mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me: out of the belly [b]of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

For thou hadst cast me into the bottom in the midst of the sea, and the floods compassed me about: all thy surges, and all thy waves passed over me.

Then I said, I am [c]cast away out of thy sight: yet will I look again toward thine holy Temple.

The waters compassed me about unto the soul: the depth closed me round about, and the weeds were wrapped about mine head.

I went down to the bottom of the mountains: the earth with her bars was about me forever, yet hast thou brought up my [d]life from the pit, O Lord my God.

When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came unto thee into thine holy Temple.

They that wait upon lying [e]vanities, forsake their own [f]mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving, and will pay that that I have vowed: salvation is of the Lord.

10 And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it cast out Jonah upon the dry land.

Footnotes

  1. Jonah 2:1 Being now swallowed up of death, and seeing no remedy to escape, his faith brast out unto the Lord, knowing that out of the very hell he was able to deliver him.
  2. Jonah 2:2 For he was now in the fish’s belly as in a grave or place of darkness.
  3. Jonah 2:4 This declared what his prayer was, and how he labored between hope and despair, considering the neglect of his vocation, and God’s judgments for the same: but yet in the end faith got the victory.
  4. Jonah 2:6 Thou hast delivered me from the belly of the fish and all these dangers, as it were raising me from death to life.
  5. Jonah 2:8 They that depend upon anything save on God alone.
  6. Jonah 2:8 They refuse their own felicity, and that goodness which they should else receive of God.

[a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He 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.
You 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)
I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;(G)
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’(H)
The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.(I)
To 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)

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

“Those who cling to worthless idols(O)
    turn away from God’s love for them.
But 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.’”

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

Footnotes

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