The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

Plain English · paraphraseEvery animal, every creature that moves, and every bird, and anything that crawls on the earth, according to their kinds, went out from the ark.

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took some of every clean animal and every clean bird and made burnt offerings on the altar.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord noticed a pleasant smell. And the Lord said in his heart, I will not curse the ground again because of people. For the thoughts of people’s hearts are evil from when they are young. And I will not destroy again everything that lives, as I have done.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Plain English · paraphraseWhile the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not stop.

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseGod blessed Noah and his sons. He said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth."

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the fear of you and the terror of you will be on every animal on the earth, on every bird in the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish in the sea. They are given into your hand.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Plain English · paraphraseEvery living creature that moves shall be food for you. I have given you all things, just as I gave you the green plants.

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

Plain English · paraphraseI will demand the blood of your lives from every beast and from every man. I will demand the life of every man from his brother.

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd you, be fruitful and multiply; produce abundantly on the earth, and multiply in it.

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I, look, I make my covenant with you and with your children after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will make my covenant with you. No more will all living things be destroyed by a flood. There will never be another flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said, This is the sign of the covenant I make between me and you and every living creature with you, for all future generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseI place my bow in the cloud, and it will serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. The waters will never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have made between myself and all living things on the earth."

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.

These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the three sons of Noah: and from them the whole earth was filled.

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Plain English · paraphraseHe drank the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered in his tent.

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

Plain English · paraphraseShem and Japheth took a garment and placed it on both their shoulders. They walked backward and covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he said, "God of Shem, be praised. Canaan will be his servant."

God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Plain English · paraphraseGod will enlarge Japheth. He will live in the tents of Shem. Canaan will be his servant.

And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseNoah lived nine hundred and fifty years, and then he died.

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

Plain English · paraphraseNow these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the sons of Javan are Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Plain English · paraphraseThe islands of the Gentiles were divided into their lands by these. Each was divided according to their language, according to their families, into their nations.

And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan.

And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseCush had a son named Nimrod. He became a powerful person on earth.

He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseHe was a great hunter in the sight of the Lord. That is why it is said, Even as Nimrod, the great hunter in the sight of the Lord.

And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Resen, between Nineveh and Calah. That city was very large.

And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Mizraim begat Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (from whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Canaan had a son named Sidon, his firstborn, and also Heth.

And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

Plain English · paraphraseThe border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; as you go further, to Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even to Lasha.

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the sons of Ham, listed according to their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

Plain English · paraphraseThe children of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.

Plain English · paraphraseArphaxad had a son named Salah. Salah had a son named Eber.

And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.

Plain English · paraphraseEber had two sons. One was named Peleg, because during his time the earth was divided. His brother was named Joktan.

And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Joktan had Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.

And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.

Plain English · paraphraseTheir home was from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the eastern mountain.

These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the sons of Shem, grouped by their families, by their languages, in their lands, by their nations.

These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Plain English · paraphraseThese are the families of Noah’s sons, listed according to their generations and their nations. Through them, the nations were divided across the earth after the flood.

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the whole earth had one language and one way of speaking.

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Plain English · paraphraseAs they traveled from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar. They settled there.

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they said to each other, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them completely." And they used bricks instead of stone, and they had slime for mortar.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said, "Look, the people are one, and they all speak the same language. And this is what they have started to do. Now nothing they imagine doing will be stopped from them."

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Plain English · paraphraseSo the Lord scattered them from there across the face of the whole earth. And they stopped building the city.

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseThat is why the place is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth. And from there the Lord scattered them across the surface of the whole earth.

These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arphaxad. He had sons and daughters.

And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and had a son named Salah:

And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years after he gave birth to Salah, and he gave birth to sons and daughters.

And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Salah lived thirty years, and had a son named Eber.

And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Salah lived for 403 years after he became the father of Eber, and he had sons and daughters.

And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Eber lived thirty-four years, and had a son named Peleg:

And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Peleg lived thirty years, and had a son named Reu.

And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after he fathered Reu, and he had sons and daughters.

And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Reu lived thirty-two years and had a son named Serug:

And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Reu lived two hundred and seven years after he became the father of Serug, and he had sons and daughters.

And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Serug lived thirty years, and had a son named Nahor.

And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and he had sons and daughters.

And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Nahor lived twenty-nine years and fathered Terah:

And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

Plain English · paraphraseNahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after he fathered Terah. He had sons and daughters.

And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Plain English · paraphraseNow these are the generations of Terah: Terah had children named Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran had a son named Lot.

And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Plain English · paraphraseBut Sarai could not have children; she had none.

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Plain English · paraphraseTerah lived to be 205 years old. Then Terah died in Haran.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Plain English · paraphraseGod had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you."