1When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,2the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.3Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with[1] humans for ever, for they are mortal[2]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days – and also afterwards – when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.5The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.6The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.7So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created – and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground – for I regret that I have made them.’8But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.
Noah and the flood
9This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.10Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.11Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.12God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.13So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.14So make yourself an ark of cypress[3] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.15This is how you are to build it: the ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.[4]16Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit[5] high all around.[6] Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.17I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.18But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.19You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.20Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.21You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.’22Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Genesis 6
English Standard Version
Increasing Corruption on Earth
1When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,2the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in[1] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Ne 9:30; Ps 78:39; Ga 5:16; 1Pe 3:19)4The Nephilim[2] were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Ge 8:21; Job 14:4; Job 15:14; Ps 14:2; Ps 51:5; Jer 17:9; Mt 15:19; Ro 3:23)6And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Nu 23:19; 1Sa 15:11; 1Sa 15:29; 2Sa 24:16; Isa 63:10; Joe 2:13; Eph 4:30)7So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Ge 19:19; Ex 33:12; Ex 33:16)
Noah and the Flood
9These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (Ge 5:22; Ge 5:24; Ge 7:1; Job 1:1; Job 1:8; Eze 14:14; Eze 14:20; Lu 1:6; Heb 11:7; 2Pe 2:5)10And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.12And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Job 22:15; Ps 14:2; Ps 53:2)13And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh,[3] for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Eze 7:2; Eze 7:6)14Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.[4] Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.15This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits,[5] its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.16Make a roof[6] for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.17For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. (Ge 7:4; 2Pe 2:5)18But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. (Ge 9:9; Ge 9:11)19And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.20Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive.21Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.”22Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (Ex 40:16; Heb 11:7)