2
Jonah prayed again after God said that he would save Jonah
1 While he was inside the huge fish, Jonah prayed to Yahweh God, whom he worshiped. After Yahweh told him that he would answer his prayer, 2 Jonah said,
“Yahweh, when I was greatly distressed here, I prayed to you, and you heard what I prayed. When I was about to descend way down into the place where dead people go, you heard me when I called out for you to help/save me.
3 You threw me down into the deep water, into the bottom [DOU] of the sea. The currents of the sea swirled around me, and the huge waves crashed above me.
4 Then I thought, ‘You have banished me, and I will never be able to enter your presence again. I will never see your holy temple in Jerusalem again!’
5 The water surrounded me, and threatened to drown me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 I sank down to where the mountains start rising [MET] from the bottom of the sea. I thought that forever it would be as though my body would be in a prison [MTY] inside the earth below me.
But you, Yahweh God, whom I worship, rescued me from going down to the place of the dead.
7 When I was almost dead [EUP], Yahweh, I ◄thought about/prayed to► you. You heard my prayer, up there where you are, in your holy temple.
8 All those who worship worthless idols are rejecting you, the one who could act kindly toward them.
9 But I will sing to thank you, and I will offer a sacrifice to you. I will surely do what I have solemnly promised to do. Yahweh, you are the one who is able to save us.”
10 Then Yahweh commanded the huge fish to vomit out Jonah, and the fish did that, and Jonah was able to get to the land.