Jonah – Chapter 2

Old Testament11 Verses

1Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah: and Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights.

2And Jonah prayed to the Lord, his God, out of the belly of the fish.

3And he said: I cried out of my affliction to the Lord, and he heard me: I cried out of the belly of hell, and thou hast heard my voice.

4And thou hast cast me forth into the deep, in the heart of the sea, and a flood hast compassed me: all thy billows, and thy waves have passed over me.

5And I said: I am cast away out of the sight of thy eyes: but yet I shall see the holy temple again.

6The waters compassed me about even to the soul: the deep hath closed me round about, the sea hath covered my head.

7I went down to the lowest parts of the mountains: the bars of the earth have shut me up for ever: and thou wilt bring up my life from corruption, O Lord, my God.

8When my soul was in distress within me, I remembered the Lord: that my prayer may come to thee, unto the holy temple.

9They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy.

10But I with the voice of praise will sacrifice to thee: I will pay whatsoever I have vowed for my salvation to the Lord.

11And the Lord spoke to the fish: and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Reflection for Today

Jonah Chapter 2 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Jesus cited Jonah as a sign of His resurrection (CIC 994). Here the believer is invited to ponder poverty of spirit and detachment.

May your reading of Jonah Chapter 2 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God's compassion reaches even to enemies applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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