Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
1
The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said,
2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
2
"Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done."
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa, and 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.
3
Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and went on board. He wanted to go to Tarshish to get away from 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 likely to be broken.
4
The LORD sent a violent wind over the sea. The storm was so powerful that the ship was in danger of breaking up.
5 Then 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 had gone down into the inner parts of the ship, and he lay and was fast asleep.
5
The sailors were afraid, and they cried to their gods for help. They began to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship's load. Now, Jonah had gone below deck and was lying there sound asleep.
6 So the shipmaster came to him and said unto him, "What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if it so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not."
6
The captain of the ship went to him and asked, "How can you sleep? Get up, and pray to your God. Maybe he will notice us, and we won't die."
7 And 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.
7
Then the sailors said to each other, "Let's throw dice to find out who is responsible for bringing this disaster on us." So they threw dice, and the dice indicated that Jonah was responsible.
8 Then said they unto him, "Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us: What is thine occupation? And from whence comest thou? What is thy country? And of what people art thou?"
8
They asked him, "Tell us, why has this disaster happened to us? What do you do for a living? Where do you come from? What country are you from? What nationality are you?"
9 And he said unto them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land."
9
Jonah answered them, "I'm a Hebrew. I worship the LORD, the God of heaven. He is the God who made the sea and the land."
10 Then 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.
10
Then the men were terrified. They knew that he was running away from the LORD, because he had told them. They asked Jonah, "Why have you done this?"
11 Then said they unto him, "What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
11
The storm was getting worse. So they asked Jonah, "What should we do with you to calm the sea?"
12 And 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."
12
He told them, "Throw me overboard. Then the sea will become calm. I know that I'm responsible for this violent storm."
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not, for the sea was wroughtup and was tempestuous against them.
13
Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn't do it. The storm was getting worse.
14 Therefore 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."
14
So they cried to the LORD for help: "Please, LORD, don't let us die for taking this man's life. Don't hold us responsible for the death of an innocent man, because you, LORD, do whatever you want."
15 So they took up Jonah and cast him forth into the sea, and the sea ceased from her raging.
15
Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the sea became calm.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD and made vows.
16
The men were terrified of the LORD. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the LORD.
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.
17
The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.