Jonah 2:2–9

2 He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord,

and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,

and you listened to my cry.

3 You hurled me into the depths,

into the very heart of the seas,

and the currents swirled about me;

all your waves and breakers

swept over me.

4 I said, ‘I have been banished

from your sight;

yet I will look again

toward your holy temple.’

5 The engulfing waters threatened me,

the deep surrounded me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;

the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But you, Lord my God,

brought my life up from the pit.

7 “When my life was ebbing away,

I remembered you, Lord,

and my prayer rose to you,

to your holy temple.

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols

turn away from God’s love for them.

9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,

will sacrifice to you.

What I have vowed I will make good.

I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ”

2 saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

3 For you cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your breakers and your waves

passed over me.

4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

yet I shall again look

upon your holy temple.’

5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 To the roots of the mountains I went down,

to the land whose bars closed upon me forever.

Yet you brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord my God.

7 When my life was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

8 Those who pay regard to vain idols

forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

2 And said,

I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me;

Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas;

And the floods compassed me about:

All thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;

Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:

The depth closed me round about,

The weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;

The earth with her bars was about me for ever:

Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord:

And my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that that I have vowed.

Salvation is of the Lord.

2 He said,

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,

and he answered me.

I called to you from the land of the dead,

and Lord, you heard me!

3 You threw me into the ocean depths,

and I sank down to the heart of the sea.

The mighty waters engulfed me;

I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.

4 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.

Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

5 “I sank beneath the waves,

and the waters closed over me.

Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.

6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.

I was imprisoned in the earth,

whose gates lock shut forever.

But you, O Lord my God,

snatched me from the jaws of death!

7 As my life was slipping away,

I remembered the Lord.

And my earnest prayer went out to you

in your holy Temple.

8 Those who worship false gods

turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,

and I will fulfill all my vows.

For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

2 And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,

And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

And You heard my voice.

3 For You cast me into the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the floods surrounded me;

All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;

Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;

The deep closed around me;

Weeds were wrapped around my head.

6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains;

The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;

Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord, my God.

7 “When my soul fainted within me,

I remembered the Lord;

And my prayer went up to You,

Into Your holy temple.

8 “Those who regard worthless idols

Forsake their own Mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice to You

With the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay what I have vowed.

Salvation is of the Lord.”

2 “When I was in danger,

I called to the Lord,

and he answered me.

I was about to die,

so I cried to you,

and you heard my voice.

3 You threw me into the sea,

down, down into the deep sea.

The water was all around me,

and your powerful waves flowed over me.

4 I said, ‘I was driven out of your presence,

but I hope to see your Holy Temple again.’

5 The waters of the sea closed around my throat.

The deep sea was all around me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 When I went down to where the mountains of the sea start to rise,

I thought I was locked in this prison forever,

but you saved me from the pit of death,

Lord my God.

7 “When my life had almost gone,

I remembered the Lord.

I prayed to you,

and you heard my prayers in your Holy Temple.

8 “People who worship useless idols

give up their loyalty to you.

9 But I will praise and thank you

while I give sacrifices to you,

and I will keep my promises to you.

Salvation comes from the Lord!”

2 And he said,

I called by reason of mine affliction unto Jehovah,

And he answered me;

Out of the belly of Sheol cried I,

And thou heardest my voice.

3 For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas,

And the flood was round about me;

All thy waves and thy billows passed over me.

4 And I said, I am cast out from before thine eyes;

Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul;

The deep was round about me;

The weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;

The earth with its bars closed upon me for ever:

Yet hast thou brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Jehovah;

And my prayer came in unto thee, into thy holy temple.

8 They that regard lying vanities

Forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that which I have vowed.

Salvation is of Jehovah.

2 and he said: I cried by reason of my distress unto Jehovah, and he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I: thou heardest my voice. 3 For thou didst cast me into the depth, into the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me: All thy breakers and thy billows are gone over me. 4 And I said, I am cast out from before thine eyes, Yet will I look again toward thy holy temple. 5 The waters encompassed me, to the soul: The deep was round about me, The weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The bars of the earth closed upon me for ever: But thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Jehovah; And my prayer came in unto thee, Into thy holy temple. 8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of Jehovah.

2 Jonah prayed: 

“I called to the Lord in my distress, 

and he answered me. 

From the depths of my ⸤watery⸥ grave I cried for help, 

and you heard my cry. 

3 You threw me into the deep, into the depths of the sea, 

and water surrounded me. 

All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me. 

4 “Then I thought, 

‘I have been banished from your sight. 

Will I ever see your holy temple again?’ 

5 “Water surrounded me, threatening my life. 

The deep ⸤sea⸥ covered me completely. 

Seaweed was wrapped around my head. 

6 I sank to the foot of the mountains. 

I sank to the bottom, 

where bars held me forever. 

But you brought me back from the pit, O Lord, my God. 

7 “As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. 

My prayer came to you in your holy temple. 

8 Those who hold on to worthless idols abandon their loyalty ⸤to you⸥. 

9 But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. 

I will keep my vow. 

Victory belongs to the Lord!” 

2 I called to the Lord in my distress,

and He answered me.

I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol;

You heard my voice.

3 You threw me into the depths,

into the heart of the seas,

and the current overcame me.

All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.

4 But I said: I have been banished

from Your sight,

yet I will look once more

toward Your holy temple.

5 The waters engulfed me up to the neck;

the watery depths overcame me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 I sank to the foundations of the mountains;

the earth with its prison bars closed behind me forever!

But You raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God!

7 As my life was fading away,

I remembered Yahweh.

My prayer came to You,

to Your holy temple.

8 Those who cling to worthless idols

forsake faithful love,

9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to You

with a voice of thanksgiving.

I will fulfill what I have vowed.

Salvation is from the Lord!

2 saying,

“I called to the Lord out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

3 You cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows

passed over me.

4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

how shall I look again

upon your holy temple?’

5 The waters closed in over me;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped around my head

6 at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land

whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the Pit,

O Lord my God.

7 As my life was ebbing away,

I remembered the Lord,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

8 Those who worship vain idols

forsake their true loyalty.

9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”

2 and said,

“I called from my distress to Yahweh,

and he answered me;

from the belly of Sheol I cried for help—

you heard my voice.

3 And you threw me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the sea currents surrounded me;

all your breakers and your surging waves

passed over me.

4 And I said, ‘I am banished

from your sight;

how will I continue to look

on your holy temple?’

5 The waters encompassed me up to my neck;

the deep surrounded me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 I went down to the foundations of the mountains;

the Underworld—its bars were around me forever.

But you brought up my life from the pit,

Yahweh my God.

7 When my life was ebbing away from me,

I remembered Yahweh,

and my prayer came to you,

to your holy temple.

8 Those who worship vain idols

forsake their loyal love.

9 But I, with a voice of thanksgiving,

will sacrifice to you;

I will fulfill what I have vowed.

Deliverance belongs to Yahweh!”

2 He said,

“When I was in trouble, I called out to you.

And you answered me.

When I had almost drowned,

I called out for help.

And you listened to my cry.

3 You threw me into the Mediterranean Sea.

I was in the middle of its waters.

They were all around me.

All of your rolling waves

were sweeping over me.

4 I said, ‘I have been driven away from you.

But I will look again

toward your holy temple in Jerusalem.’

5 I had almost drowned in the waves.

The deep waters were all around me.

Seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 I sank down to the bottom of the mountains.

I thought I had died

and gone down into the grave forever.

But you brought my life up

from the very edge of the pit.

You are the Lord my God.

7 “When my life was nearly over,

I remembered you, Lord.

My prayer rose up to you.

It reached you in your holy temple in heaven.

8 “Some people worship the worthless statues of their gods.

They turn away from the grace

you want to give them.

9 But I will sacrifice a thank offering to you.

And I will sing a song of thanks.

I will do what I have promised.

Lord, you are the one who saves.”

2 and he said,

“I called out of my distress to the Lord,

And He answered me.

I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;

You heard my voice.

3 “For You had cast me into the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the current engulfed me.

All Your breakers and billows passed over me.

4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.

Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death.

The great deep engulfed me,

Weeds were wrapped around my head.

6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.

The earth with its bars was around me forever,

But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.

7 “While I was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord,

And my prayer came to You,

Into Your holy temple.

8 “Those who regard vain idols

Forsake their faithfulness,

9 But I will sacrifice to You

With the voice of thanksgiving.

That which I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation is from the Lord.”