1 While Jonah was in the fish’s stomach, he prayed to the Lord his God. Jonah said, 2 “I was in very bad trouble. I called to the Lord for help, and he answered me! I was deep in the grave. I cried to you, Lord, and you heard my voice! 3 “You threw me into the sea. Your powerful waves splashed over me. I went down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me. 4 Then I thought, 'Now I must go where you cannot see me.’ But I continued looking to your holy temple for help. 5 “The seawater closed over me. The water covered my mouth, and I could not breathe. I went down, down into the deep sea. Seaweed wrapped around my head. 6 I was at the bottom of the sea, the place where mountains begin. I thought I was locked in this prison forever. But the Lord my God took me out of my grave! God, you gave me life again! 7 “My soul gave up all hope. But then I remembered the Lord. Lord, I prayed to you. And you heard my prayers in your holy temple. 8 “Some people worship useless idols. But those statues never help them. 9 Salvation comes only from the Lord! “Lord, I will give sacrifices to you, and I will praise and thank you. I will make special promises to you, and I will do the things I promise.” 10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish. And the fish vomited Jonah out of its stomach onto the dry land.
