Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.

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

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto you, that the sea may be calm for us? for the sea raged, and was tempestuous.

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

And said, I cried by reason of my affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of sheol cried I, and you heard my voice.

For you had cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods surrounded me: all your billows and your waves passed over me.

The waters surrounded me, even to the soul: the deep closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

I went down to the foundations of the mountains; the earth with her bars closed about me forever: yet have you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto you, into your holy temple.

And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray you, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and you relent from the destruction.

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, so that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.