Jonah 2

A prayer from the depths

1From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2He said:
“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the belly of Sheol I cried for help,
and you heard my voice. 3You cast me into the depths, into the heart of the seas.
The current surrounded me;
all your breakers and waves swept over me. 4I said, ‘I have been driven out of your sight,
yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ 5Water closed over me to the throat;
the deep surrounded me.
Seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6I went down to the roots of the mountains;
the earth’s bars closed behind me forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
LORD my God. 7As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD.
My prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8Those who cling to worthless vanities
abandon their faithful love. 9But I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving.
What I have vowed, I will fulfill.
Deliverance belongs to the LORD!” 10The LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.