(1) A message from Yahweh came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying: (2) "Get up and go to the great city Nineveh and declare judgment upon her for her wickedness is ever before me." (3) Jonah got up but he tried to flee from the presence of Yahweh and go to Tarshish. Going to Joppa, he found a ship bound for Tarshish, made payment for the fare and boarded the ship to go with them to Tarshish, far away from the presence of Yahweh. (4) Yahweh hurled a great wind upon the sea and a great tempest came upon it, such that the ship threatened to break apart. (5) When the Mariners saw, they cried out "a man to his own God."They hurled everything which was on the ship to the sea to make the ship lighter and Jonah went down into the innermost part of the ship, laid down and fell asleep. (6) The chief sailor approached him and said to him, "What are you doing just sleeping? Arise! Cry out to your god! Perhaps the god will think of us and we won't be destroyed!" (7) They said, "A wicked man is in our midst. We should cast lots so we can know who has brought this wicked thing upon us. So they cast lots and the lot fell to Jonah. (8) And they said to him,"Tell us who's responsible for this evil that's come upon us. What's your occupation? Where have you come from? What is your homeland? Where are your people? (9) He said to them, "I am a Hebrew.It is Yahweh, God of the heavens, whom I fear. He made the heavens and the dry land.(10) The men were terrified and said to him, "What is this you have done?!" They knew he was fleeing from the presence of Yahweh, for he had already told them this. (11) They said to him, "What should we do to you in order to calm the sea?" For the sea was raging and stormy. (12) He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea and it will subside, for I know that I am the one responsible for this great tempest which has come upon you." (13) The men made every effort to row toward dry land but were unable to get there because the sea was just too violent against them. (14) They cried out to Yahweh and they said, "Please, Yahweh!We pray you don't destroy us on account of the life of this man; and do not hold us accountable for innocent blood. For You, O Yahweh, have done as You pleased." (15) So they lifted Jonah up and threw him into the sea and the sea stopped raging. (16) The men greatly feared Yahweh, and made sacrifices and sacred vows to him.