Read the Bible

¹ Now the word of the Lord came vnto Ionah the sonne of Amittai, saying, ² Arise, goe to Nineueh that great citie, and cry against it: for their wickednes is come vp before me. ³ But Ionah rose vp to flee vnto Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord, and went downe to Ioppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he payed the fare thereof, and went downe into it, to goe with them vnto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

⁴ But the Lord sent out a great winde into the sea, and there was a mightie tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. ⁵ Then the Mariners were afraid, and cried euery man vnto his god, and cast foorth the wares that were in the ship, into the sea, to lighten it of them: but Ionah was gone downe into the sides of the ship, and hee lay, and was fast asleepe. ⁶ So the shipmaster came to him, and said vnto him; What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call vpon thy God, if so be that God wil thinke vpon vs, that we perish not. ⁷ And they said euery one to his fellow; Come, and let vs cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this euil is vpon vs. So they cast lots, and the lot fell vpon Ionah. ⁸ Then said they vnto him, Tel vs, we pray thee, for whose cause this euill is vpon vs: What is thine occupation? and whence commest thou? What is thy countrey? and of what people art thou? ⁹ And hee said vnto them, I am an Hebrew, and I feare the Lord the God of heauen, which hath made the sea, and the dry land. ¹⁰ Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and saide vnto him; Why hast thou done this? (for the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.)

¹¹ Then said they vnto him, What shall we doe vnto thee, that the sea may be calme vnto vs? (for the sea wrought and was tempestuous.) ¹² And he said vnto them, Take me vp, and cast mee foorth into the sea; so shall the sea be calme vnto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is vpon you. ¹³ Neuerthelesse the men rowed hard to bring it to the land, but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. ¹⁴ Wherefore they cried vnto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, We beseech thee, let vs not perish for this mans life, and lay not vpon vs, innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. ¹⁵ So they tooke vp Ionah, and cast him foorth into the sea, and the sea ceased from her raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice vnto the Lord, and made vowes. ¹⁷ Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow vp Ionah, and Ionah was in the belly of the fish three dayes, and three nights.