Old Testament
Jonah 2
Overview
From inside the great fish Jonah prays a psalm of thanksgiving, recounting how he sank to the roots of the mountains under crashing waves and cried out to the LORD from the belly of Sheol — and was heard. The prayer is woven almost entirely from the language of the Psalms, moving from distress to deliverance, and climaxes in the confession "Salvation belongs to the LORD." In response, the LORD speaks to the fish, and it vomits Jonah onto dry land. This chapter is the book's poetic heart, a prophet's worship offered from the lowest place imaginable.
1Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land .