Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, ^(A)“When you see ^(B)a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.

⁴⁴ And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, ^(A)a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” ⁴⁵ And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to ^(B)Jezreel.

² He answered them,^{[a] (A)}“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ ^(B)You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret ^(C)the signs of the times. ^4 (D)An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So ^(E)he left them and departed.