Jonah’s Prayer 1 UDB While he was inside the huge fish, Jonah prayed to Yahweh God, whom he worshiped. BSB BSB: From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God,
2 UDB Jonah said, "Yahweh, when I was greatly distressed here, I prayed to you, and you heard what I prayed. When I was about to descend way down into the place where dead people go, you heard me when I called out for you to help me. BSB BSB: saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.
3 UDB You threw me down into the deep water, into the bottom of the sea. The currents you made in the sea swirled around me, and the huge waves crashed above me. BSB BSB: For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.
4 UDB Then I thought, 'You have banished me, and I will never be able to enter your presence again. But in spite of what you do to me, one day I will again see your holy temple in Jerusalem!' BSB BSB: At this, I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’
5 UDB The water surrounded me and almost drowned me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head. BSB BSB: The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head.
6 UDB I sank down to where the mountains start rising from the bottom of the sea. I thought that forever it would be as though my body would be in a prison inside the earth below me. But you, Yahweh God, whom I worship, rescued me from going down to the place of the dead! BSB BSB: To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!
7 UDB When I was almost dead, Yahweh, I thought about you. You heard my prayer, up there where you are in your holy temple. BSB BSB: As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple.
8 UDB All those who worship worthless idols are rejecting you, the one who could act faithfully toward them. BSB BSB: Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
9 UDB But I will sing to thank you, and I will offer a sacrifice to you. I will surely do what I have solemnly promised to do. Yahweh, you are the one who is able to save us." BSB BSB: But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”
10 UDB Then Yahweh commanded the huge fish to vomit out Jonah, and the fish vomited out Jonah onto the dry land. BSB BSB: And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.