26 Then God said, “Let us(A) make mankind(B) in our image,(C) in our likeness,(D) so that they may rule(E) over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,(F) over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created(G) mankind(H) in his own image,(I)
    in the image of God(J) he created them;
    male and female(K) he created them.(L)

28 God blessed them and said to them,(M) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(N) fill the earth(O) and subdue it. Rule over(P) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(Q)

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.(R) 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life(S) in it—I give every green plant for food.(T)” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made,(U) and it was very good.(V) And there was evening, and there was morning(W)—the sixth day.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:26 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Syriac); Masoretic Text the earth

Then the Lord God formed(A) a man[a](B) from the dust(C) of the ground(D) and breathed into his nostrils the breath(E) of life,(F) and the man became a living being.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 2:7 The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah); it is also the name Adam (see verse 20).

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden(A) to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;(B) 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,(C) for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”(D)

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(E)

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals(F) and all the birds in the sky.(G) He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called(H) each living creature,(I) that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam[a] no suitable helper(J) was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;(K) and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c](L) he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;(M)
she shall be called(N) ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.(O)

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united(P) to his wife, and they become one flesh.(Q)

25 Adam and his wife were both naked,(R) and they felt no shame.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 2:20 Or the man
  2. Genesis 2:21 Or took part of the man’s side
  3. Genesis 2:22 Or part

20 Adam[a] named his wife Eve,[b](A) because she would become the mother of all the living.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 3:20 Or The man
  2. Genesis 3:20 Eve probably means living.

13 For you created my inmost being;(A)
    you knit me together(B) in my mother’s womb.(C)
14 I praise you(D) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,(E)
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made(F) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together(G) in the depths of the earth.(H)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(I) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](J) God!(K)
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(L)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand(M)
    when I awake,(N) I am still with you.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character(A) who can find?(B)
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(C) has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.(D)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.(E)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.(F)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders(G) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(H)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise(I) at the city gate.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

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