The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Plain English · paraphraseHis brother was named Jubal. He was the father of all who play the harp and organ.

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Zillah also had a son named Tubal-Cain, who taught all the craftsmen how to work with bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

Plain English · paraphraseLamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, "Listen to me. Wives of Lamech, pay attention to what I say. I have killed a man who wounded me, and a young man who hurt me."

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Plain English · paraphraseIf Cain is punished seven times over, then Lamech will be punished seventy-seven times over.

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Seth also had a son, and he named him Enos. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Plain English · paraphraseHe created them male and female; blessed them, and named them Adam on the day they were created.

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and he had a son in his own likeness and after his image. And he named his son Seth:

And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseAdam lived nine hundred and thirty years, and then he died.

And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Seth lived one hundred and five years, and had a son named Enos:

And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he fathered Enos, and he had sons and daughters.

And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Enos lived ninety years, and had a son named Cainan:

And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Enos lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he became the father of Cainan, and he had sons and daughters.

And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Cainan lived seventy years and had a son named Mahalaleel.

And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years after he fathered Mahalaleel, and he had sons and daughters.

And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseCainan lived nine hundred and ten years, and then he died.

And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

Plain English · paraphraseMahalaleel lived sixty-five years and had a son named Jared.

And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Mahalaleel lived eight hundred and thirty years after he fathered Jared, and he had other sons and daughters.

And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseMahalaleel lived eight hundred ninety-five years, and then he died.

And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Jared lived eight hundred years after he fathered Enoch, and he had sons and daughters.

And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseJared lived nine hundred sixty-two years, and then he died.

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Enoch lived sixty-five years, and had a son named Methuselah:

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years and had a son named Lamech.

And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Methuselah lived seven hundred eighty-two years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.

And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he named him Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us about our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground that the LORD has cursed."

And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Lamech lived five hundred ninety-five years after he fathered Noah, and he had sons and daughters.

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

Plain English · paraphraseLamech lived for seven hundred seventy-seven years. Then he died.

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Plain English · paraphraseThe sons of God saw the daughters of men and noticed how beautiful they were. They chose wives from among them, whomever they wanted.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said, My spirit will not keep arguing with people forever, because they are only human. But they will live for 120 years.

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Plain English · paraphraseThere were giants on the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came to the daughters of men, and they had children by them. These were the mighty men of old, the men of renown.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God saw that the wickedness of people was great on the earth, and that every idea of their thoughts was only evil all the time.

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said, I will destroy the people I have created from the face of the earth; both people, and animals, and the crawling things, and the birds of the air; for I regret that I made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Plain English · paraphraseThe earth was ruined before God, and the earth was full of violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me. The earth is filled with violence because of them. So I will destroy them and the earth."

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd this is the way you must build it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth fifty cubits, and the height thirty cubits.

A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Plain English · paraphraseYou shall make a window for the ark. You shall finish it one cubit from the top. You shall put the door of the ark on its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third levels.

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd look, I myself will bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy all living things in which is the breath of life, from under heaven. Everything on the earth will die.

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I will make a covenant with you. You and your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives will come into the ark with you.

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

Plain English · paraphraseOf birds according to their kind, and of animals according to their kind, of every crawling creature of the earth according to its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive.

And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd take for yourself all kinds of food that are eaten. Gather it to yourself. It will be food for you and for them.

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Plain English · paraphraseNoah did this. He did exactly what God had commanded him to do.

And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the Lord said to Noah, "Come you and all your house into the ark. I have seen you as righteous before me in this generation."

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Plain English · paraphraseOf every clean animal you shall take seven, male and female. Of animals that are not clean, take two, male and female.

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseOf birds also in the air, seven pairs, male and female, to keep alive the kind on the face of all the earth.

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseBut in seven more days, I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Every living thing that I have made, I will destroy from the face of the earth.

And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Noah did everything the LORD commanded him to do.

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseNoah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came to the earth.

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd Noah went in, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

Plain English · paraphraseThey went into the ark two by two, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseSeven days later, the floodwaters came upon the earth.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Plain English · paraphraseIn the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that same day all the fountains of the great deep were broken open, and the windows of heaven were opened.

And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

Plain English · paraphraseOn that same day, Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.

They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

Plain English · paraphraseThey, and every beast according to his kind, and all the cattle according to their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth according to his kind, and every bird according to his kind, every kind of bird.

And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd they went in to Noah into the ark, two by two of all living things, those in which is the breath of life.

And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseThe flood lasted forty days on the earth. The waters rose and lifted the ark, carrying it above the earth.

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the waters rose and grew greatly upon the earth; and the ark moved on the surface of the waters.

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Plain English · paraphraseThe waters rose very high over the earth, and all the high hills under the whole sky were covered.

Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

Plain English · paraphraseThe waters rose fifteen cubits high, and the mountains were covered.

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

Plain English · paraphraseThe waters stayed over the earth for 150 days.

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Plain English · paraphraseThe fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and the rain from heaven was held back.

And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the waters kept going away from the earth. After 150 days had passed, the waters were reduced.

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the waters kept going down until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

Plain English · paraphraseAnd after forty days had passed, Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made.

And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he sent out a raven, which flew back and forth until the waters dried up from the earth.

Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

Plain English · paraphraseBut the dove found no place to land, so she returned to him in the ark, because the waters covered the whole earth. Then he reached out his hand, took her, and brought her into the ark.

And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he remained seven more days. Then he sent the dove out from the ark again.

And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd the dove came back to him in the evening. In her mouth was an olive leaf, plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters had gone down from the earth.

And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he stayed seven more days. Then he sent the dove out again. This time, it did not return to him.

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.

And God spake unto Noah, saying,

Plain English · paraphraseAnd God spoke to Noah, saying,

Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.