The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Then Jonah prayed to his God from the belly of the fish.
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
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.
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3 You threw me into ocean's depths, into a watery grave, With ocean waves, ocean breakers crashing over me.
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves 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.'
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5 Ocean gripped me by the throat. The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight. My head was all tangled in seaweed
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the 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!
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, 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.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8 Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
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!"
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10 Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.
10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah 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 King James Version is in the public domain.