Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God:
2 When I was in trouble, Lord,
I prayed to you,
and you listened to me.
From deep in the world
of the dead,
I begged for your help,
and you answered my prayer.
3 You threw me down
to the bottom of the sea.
The water was churning
all around;
I was completely covered
by your mighty waves.
4 I thought I was swept away
from your sight,
never again to see
your holy temple.
5 I was almost drowned
by the swirling waters
that surrounded me.
Seaweed had wrapped
around my head.
6 I had sunk down deep
below the mountains
beneath the sea.
I knew that forever,
I would be a prisoner there.
But, you, Lord God,
rescued me from that pit.
7 When my life was slipping away,
I remembered you—
and in your holy temple
you heard my prayer.
8 All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God
who offers them mercy.
9 But with shouts of praise,
I will offer a sacrifice
to you, my Lord.
I will keep my promise,
because you are the one
with power to save.
10 The Lord commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.
1 Then Ionah prayed vnto the Lord his God out of the fishes belly, 2 And said, I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord, and he heard me: out of the bellie of hell cryed I, and thou heardest my voyce. 3 For thou haddest cast me into the bottome in the middes of the sea, and the floods compassed me about: all thy surges, and all thy waues passed ouer me. 4 Then I saide, I am cast away out of thy sight: yet will I looke againe towarde thine holy Temple. 5 The waters compassed me about vnto the soule: the depth closed me rounde about, and the weedes were wrapt about mine head. 6 I went downe to the bottome of the moutaines: the earth with her barres was about me for euer, yet hast thou brought vp my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 When my soule fainted within me, I remembred the Lord: and my prayer came vnto thee, into thine holy Temple. 8 They that waite vpon lying vanities, forsake their owne mercie. 9 But I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voice of thankesgiuing, and will pay that that I haue vowed: saluation is of the Lord. 10 And the Lord spake vnto the fish, and it cast out Ionah vpon the dry lande.