1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.

2 Jonah prayed: "I called to the LORD in my distress, and he answered me. From the depths of my [watery] grave I cried for help, and you heard my cry.

3 You threw me into the deep, into the depths of the sea, and water surrounded me. All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.

4 "Then I thought, 'I have been banished from your sight. Will I ever see your holy temple again?'

5 "Water surrounded me, threatening my life. The deep [sea] covered me completely. Seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 I sank to the foot of the mountains. I sank to the bottom, where bars held me forever. But you brought me back from the pit, O LORD, my God.

7 "As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer came to you in your holy temple.

8 Those who hold on to worthless idols abandon their loyalty [to you].

9 But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the LORD!"

10 Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it spit Jonah out onto the shore.