Genesis 6
6
The Sins of Everyone on Earth
1There began to be many human beings on the earth. And daughters were born to them. 2The sons of God saw that the daughters of human beings were beautiful. So they married any of them they chose. 3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not struggle with human beings forever. They will have only 120 years to live.”
4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days. That was when the sons of God went to the daughters of human beings. Children were born to them. The Nephilim were famous heroes who lived long ago. Nephilim were also on the earth later on.
5The Lord saw how bad the sins of everyone on earth had become. They only thought about evil things. 6The Lord was very sad that he had made human beings on the earth. His heart was filled with pain. 7So the Lord said, “I created human beings, but I will wipe them out. I will also destroy the animals, the birds in the sky, and the creatures that move along the ground. I am very sad that I have made human beings.” 8But the Lord was very pleased with Noah.
Noah and the Flood
9Here is the story of Noah’s family line.
Noah was a godly man. He was without blame among the people of his time. He walked faithfully with God. 10Noah had three sons. Their names were Shem, Ham and Japheth.
11The earth was very sinful in God’s eyes. It was full of people who did mean and harmful things. 12God saw how sinful the earth had become. All its people were living very sinful lives. 13So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to everyone. They have filled the earth with their harmful acts. I am certainly going to destroy them and the earth. 14So make yourself an ark out of cypress wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out. 15Here is how I want you to build it. The ark has to be 450 feet long. It has to be 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. 16Make a roof for it. Leave below the roof an opening all the way around that is a foot and a half high. Put a door in one side of the ark. Make lower, middle and upper decks. 17I am going to bring a flood on the earth. It will destroy all life under the sky. It will destroy every living creature that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18But I will make my covenant with you. You will go into the ark. Your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives will enter it with you. 19Bring a male and a female of every living thing into the ark. They will be kept alive with you. 20Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will also come to you. And so will two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground. All of them will be kept alive with you. 21Take every kind of food that you will need. Store it away as food for you and them.”
22Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Genesis 6
6
1And it came to pass when mankind began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2that the sons of God#GodHebrew: Elohim saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took themselves wives of all that they chose.
3And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not always plead with Man; for he indeed is flesh; but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.
4In those days were the giants on the earth, and also afterwards, when the sons of God#GodHebrew: Elohim had come in to the daughters of men, and they had borne children to them; these were the heroes, who of old were men of renown. 5And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of Man was great on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil continually.
6And Jehovah repented that he had made Man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. 7And Jehovah said, I will destroy Man, whom I have created, from the earth — from man to cattle, to creeping things, and to fowl of the heavens; for I repent that I have made them.
8But Noah found favour in the eyes of Jehovah. 9This is the history of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect amongst his generations: Noah walked with God#GodHebrew: Elohim 10And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11And the earth was corrupt before God#GodHebrew: Elohim and the earth was full of violence. 12And God#GodHebrew: Elohim looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.
13And God#GodHebrew: Elohim said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is full of violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14Make thyself an ark of gopher wood: with cells shalt thou make the ark; and pitch it inside and outside with pitch. 15And thus shalt thou make it: let the length of the ark be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16A light shalt thou make to the ark; and to a cubit high shalt thou finish it above. And the door of the ark shalt thou set in its side: with a lower, second, and third story shalt thou make it. 17For I, behold, I bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all flesh under the heavens in which is the breath of life: everything that is on the earth shall expire. 18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt go into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee: they shall be male and female. 20Of fowl after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of each shall go in to thee, to keep them alive. 21And take thou of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee, that it may be for food for thee and for them.
22And Noah did it; according to all that God#GodHebrew: Elohim had commanded him, so did he.
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.