But Jonah got up and went in the opposite
direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where
he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board,
hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.
The
engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was
wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the
earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the
pit, O LORD my God. ‘When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you,
LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 'Those who cling
to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a
song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will
make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.’
And
he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I
was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish;
for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant
and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his
discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next
day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.