Self-interpreting Bible

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Jonah 1

1Jonah, sent by God to Nineveh, fleeth to Tarshish: 4he is overtaken by a storm, and discovered; 11thrown into the sea, 17and swallowed by a fish.


1 NOW the aword of the LORD came unto 1Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to bNineveh, that cgreat city, and cry against it; for dtheir wickedness is come up before me.

3 But Jonah erose up to fflee unto gTarshish from the hpresence of the LORD, and went down to iJoppa; and he found a ship going to jTarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 ¶But kthe LORD 2sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship 3was like to be broken.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and lcried every man unto his god, and mcast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and nwas fast asleep.

6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, oWhat meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, pcall upon thy God, qif so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us rcast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and sthe lot fell upon Jonah.

8 Then said they unto him, tTell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; uWhat is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

9 And he said unto them, vI am an Hebrew; and I wfear 4the LORD, the xGod of heaven, ywhich hath made the sea and the dry land.

10 Then were the men 5exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, zWhy hast thou done this? For the men knew that he afled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 ¶Then said they unto him, bWhat shall we do unto thee, that the sea 6may be calm unto us? for the sea 7wrought, and was tempestuous.

  • b: 1Sa. 6:2 , 2Sa. 24:11 - 13
  • 6: Heb. may be silent from us.
  • 7: Or, grew more and more tempestuous. Heb. went and was.

12 And he said unto them, cTake me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that dfor my sake this great tempest is upon you.

13 Nevertheless the men 8rowed hard to bring it to the land; ebut they could not: for the sea 9wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

14 Wherefore they fcried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, glet us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, hO LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

15 So ithey took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea 10ceased from her raging.

16 Then the men jfeared the LORD exceedingly, and 11offered ka sacrifice unto the LORD, and made lvows.

17 ¶Now the LORD had mprepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And nJonah was in the 12belly of the fish three days and three nights.