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

2Jonah 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.

3You 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.

6I 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.

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

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

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