Jonah 2

“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.

9 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving,

will sacrifice to You.

I will fulfill what I have vowed.

Salvation is from the LORD!”

Jonah 2:8, note a 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.