2
1 Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.
2 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God, 3 saying:
“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From the belly of Sheol I called for help,
and you heard my voice.
4 For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the current swirled about me;
all your breakers and waves swept over me.
5 At this, I said,
‘I have been banished from your sight;
yet I will look once more
toward your holy temple.’
6 The waters engulfed me
to take my life;
the watery depths closed around me;
the seaweed wrapped around my head.
7 To the roots of the mountains I descended;
the earth beneath me barred me in forever!
But you raised my life from the pit,
O LORD my God!
8 As my life was fading away,
I remembered the LORD.
My prayer went up to you,
to your holy temple.
9 Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake his loving devotion.*2:9 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
10 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
I will fulfill what I have vowed.
Deliverance is from the LORD!”
11 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
*2:9 2:9 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.