The Bible

 

Jonah 2

Study

   

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

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

3 And 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.

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

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

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

7 I 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.

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

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

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

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

   

Commentary

 

Weigh the mountains in a balance and the hills in scales

  

In Isaiah 40:12 'to weigh the mountains in a balance, and the hills in scales,' signifies that the celestial aspects of love and charity are from the Lord, and that He alone disposes their states.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 3101)