^4 (A)An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So ^(B)he left them and departed.

The Sign of Jonah

^29 (A)When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ^(B)“This generation is an evil generation. ^(C)It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as ^(D)Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

³⁹ But he answered them, ^(A)“An evil and ^(B)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For ^(C)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, ^(D)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

³⁸ For ^(A)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this ^(B)adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed ^(C)when he comes in the glory of his Father with ^(D)the holy angels.”

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

^17 [a] And the Lord appointed^[b] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. ^(A)And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

⁶ And when they opposed and reviled him, ^(A)he shook out his garments and said to them, ^(B)“Your blood be on your own heads! ^(C)I am innocent. ^(D)From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

¹² And ^(A)he sighed deeply ^(B)in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

¹⁷ And ^(A)they began to beg Jesus^[a] to depart from their region. ¹⁸ As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.

¹⁴ Let them alone; ^(A)they are blind guides.^[a] And ^(B)if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”