Jonah

Jonah flees rather than preach to Nineveh, is swallowed by a great fish, then watches the city repent. The book exposes a prophet’s anger and God’s compassion for the nations.

Author: Jonah son of Amittai
Date: c. 780–760 BC
Theme: God’s mercy to Nineveh—and to a reluctant prophet.
Key verses: Jonah 2:9; Jonah 4:2
Updated King James

Jonah 2

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 you heard my voice. 3For you had cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me. 4Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your 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 have you 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 you, into your holy temple. 8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. 10And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Updated King James Version. Public domain or openly redistributable. Confirm the exact edition before public display if text is later imported.