2
Jonah’s Prayer
Then Jonah prayed to the Loʀᴅ his God from the stomach of the fish, and said,
“I called out of my trouble and distress to the Loʀᴅ,
And He answered me;
Out of the belly of Sheol I cried for help,
And You heard my voice. [Ps 120:1; 130:1; 142:1; Lam 3:55-58]
“For You cast me into the deep,
Into the [deep] heart of the seas,
And the currents surrounded and engulfed me;
All Your breakers and billowing waves passed over me. [Ps 42:7]
“Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ [Ps 31:22]
“The waters surrounded me, to the point of death.
The great deep engulfed me,
Seaweed was wrapped around my head. [Ps 69:1; Lam 3:54]
“I descended to the [very] roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars closed behind me [bolting me in] forever,
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit (death), O Loʀᴅ my God.
“When my soul was fainting within me,
I remembered the Loʀᴅ,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
“Those who regard and follow worthless idols
*Turn away from their [living source of] mercy and lovingkindness.
“But [as for me], I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I shall pay that which I have vowed.
Salvation is from the Loʀᴅ!”
10 So the Loʀᴅ commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.
* 2:8 Lit Forsake.