Jonah 2

Jonah's Prayer

1. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,

2. saying, 2 “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, 2 and he answered me; 2 out of the belly of Sheol I cried, 2 and you heard my voice.

3. For you cast me into the deep, 3 into the heart of the seas, 3 and the flood surrounded me; 3 all your waves and your billows 3 passed over me.

4. Then I said, ‘I am driven away 4 from your sight; 4 yet I shall again look 4 upon your holy temple.’

5. The waters closed in over me to take my life; 5 the deep surrounded me; 5 weeds were wrapped about my head

6. at the roots of the mountains. 6 I went down to the land 6 whose bars closed upon me forever; 6 yet you brought up my life from the pit, 6 O Lord my God.

7. When my life was fainting away, 7 I remembered the Lord, 7 and my prayer came to you, 7 into your holy temple.

8. Those who pay regard to vain idols 8 forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9. But I with the voice of thanksgiving 9 will sacrifice to you; 9 what I have vowed I will pay. 9 Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

10. And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.