Jonah’s prayer
¹⁷ Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
2 ¹From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ² He said:
‘In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the depths,
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
    swept over me.
⁴ I said, “I have been banished
    from your sight;
yet I will look again
    towards your holy temple.”
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,^[b]
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.

⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in for ever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.
‘When my life was ebbing away,
    I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
    to your holy temple.
⁸ ‘Those who cling to worthless idols
    turn away from God’s love for them.
⁹ But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
    will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
    I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.”’
¹⁰ And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

I love my Lord because He heard my voice.
My god, He listens to my prayer.
Because He hears me when I call on Him
Through all my days I shall pray.

My soul was saved from death; my eyes from tears;
my feet now walk before the Lord;
yet in despair I thought my end was near,
my faith in life disappeared.

What can I do to thank God for His love –
for all His benefits to me?
I will lift up salvation’s cup on high
and call on Him by His name.

My vows to Him I promise to fulfil,
to Him I sacrifice my life.
He freed me from the servitude of sin
and now I serve as His slave.

Unite in praise, great family of God,
His children, bring to Him your thanks.
City of peace, where God has made His home
with one accord, praise His name!