Jonah 2 – NIV & NIRV

New International Version

Jonah 2:1-10

In Hebrew texts 2:1 is numbered 1:17, and 2:1-10 is numbered 2:2-11. 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 deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,

and you listened to my cry.

3You hurled me into the depths,

into the very heart of the seas,

and the currents swirled about me;

all your waves and breakers

swept over me.

4I said, ‘I have been banished

from your sight;

yet I will look again

toward your holy temple.’

5The engulfing waters threatened me,2:5 Or waters were at my throat

the deep surrounded me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6To the roots of the mountains I sank down;

the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But you, Lord my God,

brought my life up from the pit.

7“When my life was ebbing away,

I remembered you, Lord,

and my prayer rose to you,

to your holy temple.

8“Those who cling to worthless idols

turn away from God’s love for them.

9But I, with shouts of grateful praise,

will sacrifice to you.

What I have vowed I will make good.

I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ”

10And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

New International Reader’s Version

Jonah 2:1-10

1From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2He said,

“When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord.

And he answered me.

When I was deep in the place of the dead,

I called out for help.

And you listened to my cry.

3You threw me deep into the Mediterranean Sea.

I was deep down in its waters.

They were all around me.

All your rolling waves

were sweeping over me.

4I said, ‘I have been driven away from you.

But I will look again

toward your holy temple in Jerusalem.’

5I had almost drowned in the waves.

The deep waters were all around me.

Seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6I sank down to the bottom of the mountains.

I thought I had died

and gone down into the grave forever.

But you are the Lord my God.

You brought my life up

from the very edge of the pit of death.

7“When my life was nearly over,

I remembered you, Lord.

My prayer rose up to you.

It reached you in your holy temple in heaven.

8“Some people worship the worthless statues of their gods.

They turn away from God’s love for them.

9But I will sacrifice a thank offering to you.

And I will shout with thankful praise.

I will do what I have promised.

I will say, ‘Lord, you are the one who saves.’ ”

10The Lord gave the fish a command. And it spit Jonah up onto dry land.