Chapter 1

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,²

Arise,³ go³ to Nineveh, that great city, and cry³ against it; for their wickedness is come up¹ before me.

But Jonah rose up⁴ to flee² unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down⁴ to Joppa; and he found⁴ a ship going to⁶ Tarshish: so he paid⁴ the fare thereof, and went down⁴ into it, to go² with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

But the LORD sent out⁵² a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like¹⁴ to be broken.⁹

Then the mariners were afraid,⁴ and cried⁴ every man unto his god, and cast forth⁵⁵ the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten⁵³ [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down¹ into the sides of the ship; and he lay,⁴ and was fast asleep.¹¹

So the shipmaster ²²⁵⁹ came⁴ to him, and said⁴ unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper?¹² arise,³ call³ upon thy God, if so be that God will think¹⁰¹ upon us, that we perish⁴ not.

And they said⁴ every one to his fellow, Come,³ and let us cast⁵⁵ lots, that we may know⁴ for whose cause this evil [is] upon us. So they cast⁵⁵ lots, and the lot fell⁴ upon Jonah.

Then said⁴ they unto him, Tell⁵⁴ us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest⁴ thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou?

And he said⁴ unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made¹ the sea and the dry [land].

Then were the men exceedingly ³³⁷⁴ afraid,⁴ and said⁴ unto him, Why hast thou done¹ this? For the men knew¹ that he fled⁶ from the presence of the LORD, because he had told⁵² them.

Then said⁴ they unto him, What shall we do⁴ unto thee, that the sea may be calm⁴ unto us? for the sea wrought,⁶ and was tempestuous.⁶

And he said⁴ unto them, Take me up,³ and cast me forth⁵⁴ into the sea; so shall the sea be calm⁴ unto you: for I know⁶ that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon you.

Nevertheless the men rowed⁴ hard to bring⁵³ [it] to the land; but they could¹ not: for the sea wrought,⁶ and was tempestuous⁶ against them.

Wherefore they cried⁴ unto the LORD, and said,⁴ We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish⁴ for this man's life, and lay⁴ not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done¹ as it pleased¹ thee.

So they took up⁴ Jonah, and cast him forth⁵⁵ into the sea: and the sea ceased⁴ from her raging.

Then the men feared⁴ the LORD exceedingly, ³³⁷⁴ and offered⁴ a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made⁴ vows.

Now the LORD had prepared¹⁷ a great fish to swallow up² Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.