Jonah 1:1-8

1 One day the Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai. 1
2 He said, "Go to Nineveh, that great city, and speak out against it; I am aware of how wicked its people are."
3 Jonah, however, set out in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord. He went to Joppa, where he found a ship about to go to Spain. He paid his fare and went aboard with the crew to sail to Spain, where he would be away from the Lord.
4 But the Lord sent a strong wind on the sea, and the storm was so violent that the ship was in danger of breaking up.
5 The sailors were terrified and cried out for help, each one to his own god. Then, in order to lessen the danger, [a] they threw the cargo [b] overboard. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone below and was lying in the ship's hold, sound asleep.
6 The captain found him there and said to him, "What are you doing asleep? Get up and pray to your god for help. Maybe he will feel sorry for us and spare our lives."
7 The sailors said to each other, "Let's draw lots and find out who is to blame for getting us into this danger." They did so, and Jonah's name was drawn.
8 So they said to him, "Now, then, tell us! Who is to blame for this? What are you doing here? What country do you come from? What is your nationality?"

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1.1 2 Kings 14.25.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. lessen the danger; [or] lighten the ship.
  • [b]. cargo; [or] equipment.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.