Matthew 12:38-45

English Standard Version

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, ^(A)we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, ^(B)“An evil and ^(C)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For ^(D)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, ^(E)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ^41 (F)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^(G)condemn it, for ^(H)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(I)something greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (J)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^(K)something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

⁴³ “When ^(L)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(M)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and ^(N)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this ^(O)evil generation.”