Jonah's Prayer from the Fish

1

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God, out of the fish’s belly.

2

He said, “I called because of my affliction to the LORD. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. You heard my voice.

3

For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.

4

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

5

The waters surrounded me, even to the soul. The deep was around me. The weeds were wrapped around my head.

6

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains. The earth barred me in forever: yet have you brought up my life from the pit, LORD my God.

7

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD. My prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.

8

Those who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9

But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.”