Genesis 6
6
The Human Race Becomes Evil
1The number of people on earth began to grow. Daughters were born to these people. 2The sons of God saw that these girls were beautiful. And they married any of them they chose. 3The Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain in human beings forever. This is because they are flesh. They will live only 120 years.”
4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also later. That was when the sons of God had physical relations with the daughters of men. These women gave birth to children, who became famous. They were the mighty warriors of long ago.
5The Lord saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked. He also saw that their thoughts were only about evil all the time. 6The Lord was sorry he had made human beings on the earth. His heart was filled with pain. 7So the Lord said, “I will destroy all human beings that I made on the earth. And I will destroy every animal and everything that crawls on the earth. I will also destroy the birds of the air. This is because I am sorry that I have made them.” 8But Noah pleased the Lord.
Noah and the Great Flood
9This is the family history of Noah. Noah was a good man. He was the most innocent man of his time. He walked with God. 10Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
11People on earth did what God said was evil. Violence was everywhere. 12And God saw this evil. All people on the earth did only evil. 13So God said to Noah, “People have made the earth full of violence. So I will destroy all people from the earth. 14Build a boat of cypress wood for yourself. Make rooms in it and cover it inside and outside with tar. 15This is how big I want you to build the boat: 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. 16Make an opening around the top of the boat. Make it 18 inches high from the edge of the roof down. Put a door in the side of the boat. Make an upper, middle and lower deck in it. 17I will bring a flood of water on the earth. I will destroy all living things that live under the sky. This includes everything that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will die. 18But I will make an agreement with you. You, your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives will all go into the boat. 19Also, you must bring into the boat two of every living thing, male and female. Keep them alive with you. 20There will be two of every kind of bird, animal and crawling thing. They will come to you to be kept alive. 21Also gather some of every kind of food. Store it on the boat as food for you and the animals.”
22Noah did everything that God commanded him.
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Genesis 6
6
Evil Increases on the Earth
1The number of people increased all over the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2The sons of God saw that the daughters of other humans were beautiful. So they married any woman they chose.
3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not struggle with humans forever, because they are flesh and blood. They will live 120 years.”
4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, as well as later, when the sons of God slept with the daughters of other humans and had children by them. These children were famous long ago.
5The Lord saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil. 6The Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and he was heartbroken. 7So he said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth these humans that I created. I will wipe out not only humans, but also domestic animals, crawling animals, and birds. I’m sorry that I made them.” 8But the Lord was pleased with Noah.
Noah’s Family and the Ship
9This is the account of Noah and his descendants.
Noah had God’s approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God. 10He had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11The world was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence. 12God saw the world and how corrupt it was because all people on earth lived evil lives.
13God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all people because the earth is full of their violence. Now I’m going to destroy them along with the earth. 14Make yourself a ship of cypress wood. #6:14 Or “teakwood.” Make rooms in the ship and coat it inside and out with tar. 15This is how you should build it: the ship is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16Make a roof for the ship, and leave an 18-inch-high opening at the top. Put a door in the side of the ship. Build the ship with lower, middle, and upper decks. 17I’m about to send a flood on the earth to destroy all people under the sky—every living, breathing human. Everything on earth will die.
18“But I will make my promise #6:18 Or “covenant.” to you. You, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives will go into the ship. 19Bring two of every living creature into the ship in order to keep them alive with you. They must be male and female. 20Two of every type of bird, every type of domestic animal, and every type of creature that crawls on the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21Take every kind of food that can be eaten and store it. It will be food for you and the animals.”
22Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.