Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.

The Birth of Seth

Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth, for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.”

When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.

The Descendants of Adam

This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself.

When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth.

walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created.”

So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

God wiped out every living thing on the earth—people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat.

The Flood Recedes

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.

This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.

And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.

Then Shem and Japheth took a robe, held it over their shoulders, and backed into the tent to cover their father. As they did this, they looked the other way so they would not see him naked.

They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.)

Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.