1This word of the LORD came to Jonah, son of Amittai: 2“Arise, go to that great city Nineveh, and call out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

3But Jonah arose to flee from the LORD to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship bound for Tarshish; paid his fare, and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish, hoping to escape from the LORD. 4But then the LORD sent a great wind that produced a violent storm on the sea, such that the ship was in danger of being broken apart. 5Then the mariners (sailors) were afraid, and each man cried out to his god, and began throwing the ship’s cargo into the sea, to lighten it. But Jonah had gone below decks, lay down, and was fast asleep. 6So the captain came to him and demanded, “What do you mean, O sleeper? Get up! Call upon your God; maybe God will spare us, so that we do not perish.”

7And the sailors said, “Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know who is to blame for this evil has come upon us.” And so they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8Then they asked him, “Why has this awful storm come upon us. What is your occupation, and your nationality? And of what people are you?” 9And Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, Who has made the sea as well as the dry land.” 10Then they were even more afraid, and asked him, “Why have you done this?” For they knew that he was running from the LORD, because he had told them. 11Then they asked him, “What must we do to you, so that the sea may be calm to us?” For the sea was getting rougher and more tempestuous. 12And he told them, “Pick me up, and throw me into the sea; and then it shall become calm for you; for I know that it is for my sake that this great tempest is upon you.” 13But instead, the men rowed hard to try to bring her to land; but could not; because of the raging sea and the violent wind opposed them. 14Then they cried out to the LORD, and said, “We beg You, O LORD, we plead with You, do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not hold us responsible for an innocent life; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” 15So then they picked up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea stopped raging and became calm. 16At this, the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD, and made vows to Him.

17Now the LORD had provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of that fish for three days and three nights.