1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, |
2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. |
3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with1 6:3 Or My spirit will not remain in man forever, for he is mortal2 6:3 Or corrupt ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." |
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days-and also afterward-when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. |
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. |
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. |
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth-men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air-for I am grieved that I have made them." |
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD . |
9 This is the account of Noah. |
10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. |
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. |
12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. |
13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. |
14 So make yourself an ark of cypress3 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. |
15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.4 6:15 Hebrew 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high (about 140 meters long, 23 meters wide and 13.5 meters high) |
16 Make a roof for it and finish5 6:16 Or Make an opening for light by finishing the ark to within 18 inches6 6:16 Hebrew a cubit (about 0.5 meter) of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. |
17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. |
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark-you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. |
19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. |
20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. |
21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them." |
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him. |
