Jonah 2
1 Then Jonah prayed unto Yhwh his God out of the fish’s belly,
[While he was] inside the huge fish, Jonah prayed to Yahweh God, [whom] he [worshiped. After Yahweh told him that he would answer his prayer, ]
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto Yhwh, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. (Sheol h7585)
Jonah said, “Yahweh, when I was greatly distressed [here], I prayed to you, and you heard what I [prayed]. When I was [about to descend way down into] the place where dead people go, you heard me when I called out [for you to help/save me]. (Sheol h7585)
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
You threw me [down] into the deep [water], into the bottom [DOU] of the sea. The currents of the sea swirled around me, and the huge waves crashed above me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
Then I thought, ‘You have banished me, and I will never be able to enter your presence again. I will never see your holy temple [in Jerusalem] again!’
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
The water surrounded me, and threatened to drown me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Yhwh my God.
I sank down to where the mountains start rising [MET] [from the bottom of the sea]. I thought that forever [it would be as though] my body would be in a prison [MTY] [inside the earth] below me. But you, Yahweh God, whom I [worship], rescued me from going down to the place of the dead.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered Yhwh: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
When I was almost dead [EUP], Yahweh, I (thought about/prayed to) you. You [heard] my prayer, up [there where] you [are, in] your holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
All those who worship worthless idols are rejecting [you], the one who [could] act kindly toward them.
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of Yhwh.
But I will sing to thank [you], and I will offer a sacrifice to you. I will [surely] do what I have solemnly promised [to do]. Yahweh, you are the one who is [able to] save [us].”
10 And Yhwh spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Then Yahweh commanded the huge fish to vomit out Jonah, [and the fish did that], and [Jonah was able to get] to the land.
