Genesis 2:4-19

New International Version

Adam and Eve

⁴This is the account^(A) of the heavens and the earth when they were created,^(B) when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

⁵Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth^[a] and no plant had yet sprung up,^(C) for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth^(D) and there was no one to work the ground, ⁶but streams^[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. ⁷Then the Lord God formed^(E) a man^[c]^(F) from the dust^(G) of the ground^(H) and breathed into his nostrils the breath^(I) of life,^(J) and the man became a living being.^(K)

⁸Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden;^(L) and there he put the man he had formed. ⁹The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees^(M) that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life^(N) and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.^(O)

¹⁰A river^(P) watering the garden flowed from Eden;^(Q) from there it was separated into four headwaters. ¹¹The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah,^(R) where there is gold. ¹²(The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin^[d]^(S) and onyx are also there.) ¹³The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.^[e] ¹⁴The name of the third river is the Tigris;^(T) it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.^(U)

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

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

¹⁹Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals^(AA) and all the birds in the sky.^(AB) He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called^(AC) each living creature,^(AD) that was its name.

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Footnotes

Genesis 2:5 Or land; also in verse 6
Genesis 2:6 Or mist
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).
Genesis 2:12 Or good; pearls
Genesis 2:13 Possibly southeast Mesopotamia

Proverbs 3:1-18

New International Version

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

3 My son,^(A) do not forget my teaching,^(B)
but keep my commands in your heart,
²for they will prolong your life many years^(C)
and bring you peace and prosperity.^(D)

³Let love and faithfulness^(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.^(F)
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.^(G)

⁵Trust in the Lord^(H) with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths^(I) straight.^[a]^(J)

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(K)
fear the Lord^(L) and shun evil.^(M)
⁸This will bring health to your body^(N)
and nourishment to your bones.^(O)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits^(P) of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled^(Q) to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(R)

¹¹My son,^(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(T)
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(U)
as a father the son he delights in.^[b]^(V)

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.^(W)
¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;^(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.^(Y)
¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;^(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.^(AA)
¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.^(AB)
¹⁸She is a tree of life^(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(AD)