1Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying , 2Arise , go to Nineveh , that great city , and cry against it ; for their wickedness is come up before me . 3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah ; 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 Jehovah .
The Storm at Sea
4But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea , and there was a mighty tempest on the sea , so that the ship was like to be broken . 5Then the mariners were afraid , and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea , to lighten it unto them . But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship ; and he lay , and was fast asleep . 6So 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 . 7And 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 . 8Then 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 ? 9And he said unto them , I am a Hebrew ; and I fear Jehovah , the God of heaven , who hath made the sea and the dry land . 10Then were the men exceedingly afraid , and said unto him , What is this that thou hast done ? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah , because he had told them .
Jonah's Confession
11Then 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 . 12And 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 . 13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land ; but they could not : for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them . 14Wherefore they cried unto Jehovah , and said , We beseech thee , O Jehovah , we beseech thee , let us not perish for this man ’s life , and lay not upon us innocent blood ; for thou , O Jehovah , hast done as it pleased thee . 15So they took up Jonah , and cast him forth into the sea ; and the sea ceased from its raging . 16Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly ; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah , and made vows .
The Resolution
17And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.