The Corruption of Mankind
1 Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
2 that thesons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautifulanddesirable; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they choseanddesired.
3 Then the Lordsaid, “My Spirit shall not striveandremain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt–given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet bea hundred and twenty years.”
4 There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days–and also afterward–when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to theirchildren. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).
5 The Lordsaw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imaginationorintent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.
6 The Lordregretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart.
7 So the Lordsaid, “I will destroy (annihilate) mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth–not only man, but the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air–because it [deeply] grieves Me [to see mankind’s sin]andI regret that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found favorandgrace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These arethe records ofthe generations (family history) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man [one who was just and had right standing with God], blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked (lived) [in habitual fellowship] with God.
10 Now Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 The [population of the] earth was corrupt [absolutely depraved–spiritually and morally putrid] in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence [desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power].
12 God looked on the earth and saw how debasedanddegenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earthandlost their true direction.
13 God said to Noah, “I intend to make an end of all that lives, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I am about todestroy them together with the land.
14 Make yourself anark ofgopher wood; make in it rooms (stalls, pens, coops, nests, cages, compartments) andcoat it inside and out with pitch (bitumen).
15 This is the way you are to make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits (450’ x 75’ x 45’).
16 You shall make awindow [for light and ventilation] for the ark, and finish it to at least a cubit (eighteen inches) from the top–and set the [entry] door of the ark in its side; and you shall make it with lower, second and third decks.
17 For behold, I, even I, will bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all life under the heavens in which there is the breathandspirit of life; everything that is on the land shall die.
18 But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark–you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
19 And of every living thing [found on land], you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowlsandbirds according to their kind, of animals according to their kind, of every crawling thing of the ground according to its kind–two of every kind shall come to you to keep them alive.
21 Also take with you every kind of food that is edible, and you shall collectandstore it; and it shall be food for you and for them.”
22 So Noah did this; according to all that God commanded him, that is what he did.