The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Then Jonah prayed to his God from the belly of the fish.
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Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,
2 He prayed: "In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God. He answered me. From the belly of the grave I cried, 'Help!' You heard my cry.
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saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
3 You threw me into ocean's depths, into a watery grave, With ocean waves, ocean breakers crashing over me.
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For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
4 I said, 'I've been thrown away, thrown out, out of your sight. I'll never again lay eyes on your Holy Temple.'
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Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple. ’
5 Ocean gripped me by the throat. The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight. My head was all tangled in seaweed
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The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head
6 at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root. I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever - Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God!
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at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
7 When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple.
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When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
8 Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love.
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Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I'm worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I'll do what I promised I'd do! Salvation belongs to God!"
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But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord! ”
10 Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.
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And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025