Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

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.

but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.

Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”

The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.

The Sons of Noah

The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)

These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth.

The Table of Nations

This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.

Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

The Semites

Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.

The Tower of Babel

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.