1. One day the Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai.
2. He said, “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and speak out against it; I am aware how wicked its people are.”
3. Jonah, however, set out in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord. He went to Joppa, where he found a ship about to go to Spain. He paid his fare and went aboard with the crew to sail to Spain, where he would be away from the Lord.
4. But the Lord sent a strong wind on the sea, and the storm was so violent that the ship was in danger of breaking up.
5. The sailors were terrified and cried out for help, each one to his own god. Then, in order to lessen the danger, they threw the cargo overboard. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone below and was lying in the ship's hold, sound asleep.
6. The captain found him there and said to him, “What are you doing asleep? Get up and pray to your god for help. Maybe he will feel sorry for us and spare our lives.”