Chorus: An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign,
Chorus mysticus: and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet, Jonah; (Mt. 12:39)
Chorus: For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites,
Chorus mysticus: so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. (Lk. 11:29-30)
Jonah: They will not believe me, for they will say: The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. (Ex. 4:1) The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. (Zeph. 1:2) Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. (Ex. 4:13) 1 have labored in vain (Isa. 49:4) Who hath believed our report? (Isa. 53:1) Oh, that hou wouldest hide me in hell, that thou wouldest conceal me, until thy wrath be past; that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me. (Job 14:13) Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (Ps. 139:7)
Thus saith the Lord, I am sought by those who have asked not for me (Isa. 65:1) Lift up thine eyes.
Chorus: Thus saith the Lord, The heart of the sons of men is disobedient and faint. Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the conscience. (Jer. 17:9) Thus saith the Lord.
Tenor: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:23-24)
Chorus: Thus saith the Lord: The heart of the sons of men is disobedient and faint. Who can know it?
Tenor: Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast cleansed me. (Ps. 17:3) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unformed (Ps. 139:16) and thou guardest me in the womb.
Chorus: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4,7)
Tenor: Then I said: I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not refrain. (Jer. 20:9)
Chorus: The heart of the sons of men is disobedient and faint. Who can know it?
Tenor: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Forward Scene I Jonah's Mission