God spoke to Jonah and gave him command:
“Go east to Nineveh and tell them My plan.”
Jonah objected and fled from the Lord;
Soon found a ship headed west, went on board.
Then God sent forth a tempest; upon the ship it beat.
Each man cried to his own god, but Jonah fell asleep.
The sailors came and woke him, his business did demand.
He said, “My God’s the Lord of Heav’n, who made the sea and land.”

The sea grew rougher, till Jonah did cry,
“It’s all my fault, cast me down, let me die!”
They tried to row back but could not prevail;
Threw Jonah over; the waves then grew still.
Then God sent forth a great fish; it swallowed him alive.
For three days from its stomach, he prayed to God on high.
He gave up worthless idols; with thanks he spoke this word:
“What I have vowed I will make good; salvation’s from the Lord.”

God told the fish to spit Jonah back out;
Then said to Jonah, “To Nineveh set out.”
Jonah obeyed and proclaimed all God’s word:
“Forty more days, then you’ll all be destroyed!”
The people all believed God; they fasted and they prayed.
In sackcloth they repented, gave up their evil ways.
When God saw their repentance, he felt compassion great.
He turned from his fierce anger and did not fulfill his threat.

Jonah was angry that God would forgive;
Said, “Lord, please kill me, I don’t want to live.”
Then he went outside the city to see what God would do, what the outcome would be.
God sent a vine to shade him, but then he sent a worm.
The vine did quickly wither; the wind and sun did burn.
In anger Jonah cried out; he thought his life should end.
God said, “You cared about the vine; should I not care for men?”

Lord, when a mission you give unto me, may I obey You and not try to flee.
You are so gracious, compassionate e’er, slow to get angry, abounding in care.
May I proclaim Your message to those who need to hear,
So that they will not perish, nor judgment from You fear.
May I not value comfort, nor fault You for Your grace.
Give me your heart for all the lost, until I see Your face.

In the Bible we are told
Of a prophet who was called
To a city that was steeped in awful sin;
All the people in that place
Were devoid of saving grace,
And the prophet seemed afraid to enter in.

Refrain

Over there, over there,
In that land bright and fair,
Oh, he’ll tell me all about it over there;
On the hallelujah strand
I’ll take Jonah by the hand,
And he’ll tell me all about it over there.

Then this prophet forth was sent
That old Nineveh might repent,
But instead of that to Tarshish he set sail;
Oh! the winds began to blow,
Overboard did Jonah go,
And he found a mercy seat inside the whale.

Refrain

In the cold and briny deep
Tears of grief did Jonah weep,
And the big fish threw him out upon the shore;
Then he gladly went his way,
Preached to Nineveh night and day,
And he did not care to backslide any more.

Refrain

Oh, some people don’t believe
That a whale could him receive.
But that does not make my song at all untrue;
There are whales on every side,
With their big mouths open wide—
Just take care, my friend, or one will swallow you.

Refrain

Many souls are tossed about
By the whales of fear and doubt,
But the Savior wants to take them by the hand.
If they will His voice obey,
He will save them right away,
And will guide them safely to the promised land.

Refrain