Sons of God and Daughters of Mankind

6 When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, ² the sons of God^(A) saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves.^{(B) 3} And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain^[a] with^[b] mankind forever,^(C) because they are corrupt.^[c](D) Their days will be 120 years.” ⁴ The Nephilim^[d] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

Judgment Decreed

⁵ When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,^{(E) 6} the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth,^(F) and he was deeply grieved. ⁷ Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” ⁸ Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.^(G)

God Warns Noah

⁹ These are the family records^(H) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man,^(I) blameless among his contemporaries;^(J) Noah walked with God.^{(K) 10} And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.^{[e] 12} God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.^{(L) 13} Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

¹⁴ “Make yourself an ark of gopher^[f] wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. ¹⁵ This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.^{[g] 16} You are to make a roof,^[h] finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches^[i] of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.

¹⁷ “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth^(M) to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. ¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you,^(N) and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. ¹⁹ You are also to bring into the ark two of all the living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. ²⁰ Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive. ²¹ Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.” ²² And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.^(O)

The Messiah’s Herald

1 The beginning^(A) of the gospel^(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^{[a](C) 2} As it is written in Isaiah^(D) the prophet:^[b](E)

⁴ John came baptizing^[f](K) in the wilderness^(L) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance^(M) for the forgiveness^(N) of sins.^{(O) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(P) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(Q) River, confessing^(R) their sins.^{(S) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(T) and wild honey.^(U)

⁷ He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful^(V) than I am is coming after me.^(W) I am not worthy^(X) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.^{(Y) 8} I baptize you with^[g] water,^(Z) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(AA)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(AB) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(AC) in Galilee^(AD) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens^(AE) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(AF) came from heaven:^(AG) “You are my beloved^(AH) Son;^(AI) with you I am well-pleased.”^(AJ)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(AK) the Spirit^(AL) drove^(AM) him into the wilderness.^{(AN) 13} He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted^(AO) by Satan.^(AP) He was with the wild animals,^(AQ) and the angels^(AR) were serving him.

Ministry in Galilee

¹⁴ After^(AS) John was arrested,^(AT) Jesus went to Galilee,^(AU) proclaiming^(AV) the good news^[h][i](AW) of God:^{(AX) 15} “The time^(AY) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God^(AZ) has come^(BA) near.^(BB) Repent^(BC) and believe^(BD) the good news!”

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(BE) he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee,^(BF) he saw Simon^(BG) and Andrew,^(BH) Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea^(BI)—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow me,”^(BJ) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^[j](BK) people.”^{(BL) 18} Immediately they left their nets and followed^(BM) him.^{(BN) 19} Going on a little farther, he saw James^(BO) the son of Zebedee^(BP) and his brother John^(BQ) in a boat putting their nets in order. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.^(BR)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ They^(BS) went into Capernaum,^(BT) and right away he entered the synagogue^(BU) on the Sabbath^(BV) and began to teach.^{(BW) 22} They were astonished^(BX) at his teaching^(BY) because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

²³ Just then a man with an unclean^(BZ) spirit^(CA) was in their synagogue.^(CB) He cried out, ²⁴ “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?^(CC) Have you come to destroy^(CD) us? I know who you are—the Holy^(CE) One of God!” ^(CF)

²⁵ Jesus rebuked^(CG) him saying, “Be silent,^(CH) and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,^(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ They were all amazed,^(CJ) and so they began to ask^(CK) each other, “What is this? A new teaching^(CL) with authority!^[k](CM) He commands even the unclean^(CN) spirits,^(CO) and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(CP)

Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(CQ) soon as they left the synagogue,^(CR) they went into Simon^(CS) and Andrew’s^(CT) house^(CU) with James^(CV) and John.^{(CW) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹ So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(CX) The fever^(CY) left her,^[l] and she began to serve^(CZ) them.^(DA)

³² When^(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick^(DC) and demon-possessed.^{(DD) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and he healed^(DE) many who were sick with various diseases^(DF) and drove out^(DG) many demons.^(DH) And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.^(DI)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(DJ) early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;^(DK) and there he was praying.^{(DL) 36} Simon^(DM) and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

³⁸ And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(DN) there too. This is why I have come.”

A Man Cleansed

³⁹ He went into all of Galilee,^(DO) preaching in their synagogues^(DP) and driving out demons. ⁴⁰ Then^(DQ) a man with leprosy^[m](DR) came to him and, on his knees,^[n](DS) begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(DT) 41} Moved with compassion,^[o](DU) Jesus reached out his hand and touched^(DV) him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy^(DW) left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ Then he sternly warned^(DX) him and sent him away^(DY) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;^(DZ) but go and show^(EA) yourself to the priest,^(EB) and offer^(EC) what Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(ED) as a testimony^(EE) to them.”^{[p] 45} Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(EF) it widely and to spread the news,^(EG) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

Psalm 68

God’s Majestic Power

For the choir director. A psalm of David. A song.