约拿违背耶和华
1耶和华对亚米太的儿子约拿说： 2“你起来前往尼尼微大城，大声警告那里的居民，因为他们的罪恶滔天，已经达到我面前。” 3可是，约拿却起身逃往他施，想躲避耶和华。他到了约帕港，看见一艘要开往他施的船，就付了船费，上了船，想和众人一起去他施，好躲避耶和华。
4然而，耶和华使海面起了狂风，滔天巨浪几乎把船打成碎片。 5水手们非常害怕，纷纷呼求自己的神，又把船上的货物全都抛进海里，以减轻重量。这时候，约拿已下到底舱，躺在那里呼呼大睡。 6船长来到约拿身边对他说：“你这个人，怎么这时候还在睡觉！快起来祈求你的神吧，也许你的神会怜悯我们，饶我们一命。”
7后来，船上的人彼此商量说：“来，我们抽签，看看这场灾难是谁惹来的。”于是他们就抽签，结果抽中了约拿。 8众人问他：“请告诉我们，这场灾难是谁惹来的？你是做什么的？从哪里来？是哪一国、哪一族的人？” 9约拿回答说：“我是希伯来人，我敬畏耶和华，祂是创造海洋陆地、掌管诸天的上帝。” 10之后，他就把怎样逃避耶和华的事告诉他们。众人知道后，万分恐惧，问他：“你怎么做出这种事？”
11那时，风浪越来越大，他们便对约拿说：“我们要怎样处置你，才能使风浪平静呢？” 12约拿对他们说：“我知道这场风暴是因我而起的，你们把我抬起来抛进海里，风浪自然会平静。” 13然而船上的人还是拚命划船，希望把船划向岸边，可是没有成功，因为风浪实在太大了。 14他们只好呼求耶和华，说：“耶和华啊，求你不要因这个人的性命而毁灭我们，不要因我们杀害无辜的人而怪罪我们，因为你耶和华按自己的旨意行事。” 15然后他们把约拿抬起来抛进海里，狂风巨浪立刻平静了。 16众人都极其敬畏耶和华，向祂献祭，并且许愿。
17耶和华安排了一条大鱼，把约拿吞下，他在鱼腹里度过三天三夜。
1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,1.1 Jonah: Gr. Jonas 2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
4¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.1.4 sent out: Heb. cast forth1.4 was like…: Heb. thought to be broken 5Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. 7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? 9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.1.9 the LORD: or, JEHOVAH 10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.1.10 exceedingly…: Heb. with great fear
11¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.1.11 may…: Heb. may be silent from us1.11 wrought…: or, grew more and more tempestuous: Heb. went 12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.1.13 rowed: Heb. digged1.13 wrought…: or, grew more and more tempestuous: Heb. went 14Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. 15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.1.15 ceased: Heb. stood 16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.1.16 offered…: Heb. sacrifice unto the LORD, and vowed vows
17¶ Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.1.17 belly: Heb. bowels
