Jonah 2

‘I was in big trouble.

I asked the Lord to help me,

and He listened to me and He answered me.

I was almost dead,

but I asked You to help me, O Lord,

and You heard what I said.

₃You threw me into the deep water.

I went down to the deepest part of the sea,

and the water was all around me.

Big and strong waves of water came over me.

₄It looked to me as if You had thrown me away

and that You did not want to see me again.

But I was sure that I would see your holy temple again.

₅The water was around me,

and I was drowning.

I fell deep down into the sea,

and the water was over me.

Seaweed was round my head.

₆I was in the deepest part of the sea,

where the mountains begin.

It looked to me as if the earth had tied me up

and it would keep me there forever.

But You, O Lord my God,

saved me and I did not die.

₇I did not hope that I would live anymore,

but then I remembered You

and I talked to You and prayed to You, O Lord.

And in your holy temple,

You listened to my prayer.

₈People who bow down before

other gods and worship_idols

do not love You, O Lord.

₉But I will give an offering to You.

I will pray to You,

and I will thank You.

I have made a promise

and I will do what I have said.

It is the Lord who saves people.’