1: Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of
Amittai, saying, |
|
2: Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for
their wickedness is come up before me. |
|
3:
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of
the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he 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. |
|
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 like to be broken.
|
|
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 was gone down into the sides of the ship;
and he lay, and was fast asleep. |
|
6: So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest
thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think
upon us, that we perish not. |
|
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. |
|
8: Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose
cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest
thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? |
|
9: And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD,
the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry 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. |
|
11: Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the
sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. |
|
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. |
|
13: Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but
they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
|
|
14: Wherefore 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. |
|
15: So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and
the sea ceased from her raging. |
|
16: Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a
sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. |
|
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. |