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While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God and said,

“When I was in danger,
    I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
I was about to die,
    so I cried to you,
    and you heard my voice.
You threw me into the sea,
    down, down into the deep sea.
The water was all around me,
    and your powerful waves flowed over me.
I said, ‘I was driven out of your presence,
    but I hope to see your Holy Temple again.’
The waters of the sea closed around my throat.
    The deep sea was all around me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.
When I went down to where the mountains of the sea start to rise,
    I thought I was locked in this prison forever,
but you saved me from the pit of death,
    Lord my God.

“When my life had almost gone,
    I remembered the Lord.
I prayed to you,
    and you heard my prayers in your Holy Temple.

“People who worship useless idols
    give up their loyalty to you.
But I will praise and thank you
    while I give sacrifices to you,
    and I will keep my promises to you.
Salvation comes from the Lord!”

10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and the fish threw up Jonah onto the dry land.

[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