1 Jonah's Prayer
1 +02:1-10 is numbered 2:2-11 in Hebrew texts.+1 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: 2 "In my distress I called to the Lord, 2 and he answered me. 2 From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, 2 and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep, 3 into the very heart of the seas, 3 and the currents swirled about me; 3 all your waves and breakers 3 swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished 4 from your sight; 4 yet I will look again 4 toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[a] 5 the deep surrounded me; 5 seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; 6 the earth beneath barred me in forever. 6 But you, Lord my God, 6 brought my life up from the pit.
7 "When my life was ebbing away, 7 I remembered you, Lord, 7 and my prayer rose to you, 7 to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols 8 forfeit God's love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, 9 will sacrifice to you. 9 What I have vowed I will make good. 9 I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.' "
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
