Catholic Commentary on Jonah 2

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” (Jonah 2:2)

Jonah's Prayer from the Fish

The LORD provides a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah is in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish Jonah prays: in my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me. 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, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

The Catechism identifies Jonah's prayer from the depths as one of the great Old Testament prayers of deliverance, the pattern of the cry that God always hears (CCC 2585).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, from deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. The deepest place is not beyond God's hearing. The seaweed wrapped around the head, the mountains at the roots, the pit: none of these is too deep for the voice to carry upward. From wherever you have descended in your flight from God, cry out. He listens from the depths.

Prayer

Lord God, from whatever depth we have descended, hear our cry. Bring our life up from the pit. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
Jonah’s Prayer
1 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God, 2 saying:
 
“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and He answered me.
From the belly of Sheol I called for help,
and You heard my voice.
3 For You cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the current swirled about me;
all Your breakers and waves swept over me.
4 At this, I said,
‘I have been banished from Your sight;
yet I will look once more
toward Your holy temple.’
 
5 The waters engulfed me
to take my life;
the watery depths closed around me;
the seaweed wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I descended;
the earth beneath me barred me in forever!
But You raised my life from the pit,
O LORD my God!
 
7 As my life was fading away,
I remembered the LORD.
My prayer went up to You,
to Your holy temple.
8 Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake His loving devotion.* 2:8 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
9 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to You.
I will fulfill what I have vowed.
Salvation is from the LORD!”
 
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

*2:8 2:8 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

Public Domain