Genesis 9

Then God caused Noah and his sons to prosper by saying to them, “Have many children so that you {and your descendants} will become numerous and live all over the earth.

Every living creature on the earth will be afraid and terrified of you, including every bird {that flies} in the sky, {along} with every creature that moves on land, and all the fish in the ocean. I have put them {all} under your authority. \*

{From now on} every creature that is alive and moves is yours {to eat} as food. In the same way that {I provided you} green plants {for food}, {now} I provide you everything {for food}.

However, you must never eat meat that still has its blood {in it}, which made it live. \*

Also, I definitely require that anyone who murders someone must die. {In fact,} if any animal {kills a human being}, I require that it must die. {That is also true} for human beings: If anyone {murders} another person, I require that he must die. 6 {That’s right,} you must put to death anyone who murders a human being, because God made human beings to be like himself.

Now {as for} you, have many children so that you {and your descendants} will become numerous. Spread out all over the earth and become numerous everywhere.” \*

Then God said to Noah and his sons,

“Listen {carefully} to me: I am making my agreement with you and your descendants.

{It is} also with all the living creatures that {are} with you, including the birds, the livestock, and all the {other} living creatures on the earth {that are} with you. {That includes} all {those} that came out of the ark and all the living creatures {that will ever live} on the earth. \*

My agreement that I am making with you is that never again will all living things die from a flood. I will not use a flood ever again to destroy {everything on} the earth.”

Then God continued, “This {is} how I will show {everyone} that I have made this agreement with you and with all the living creatures that {are} with you, as well as with all the people and animals that will ever live:

I will put my rainbow among the clouds {in the sky} to remind {everyone} that I have made this agreement with {every creature that lives on} the earth. \*

So whenever I cause clouds to form {in the sky} above the earth and a rainbow appears in the clouds,

then I will not forget {to keep} my agreement that I have established with you and with all living creatures of every kind. {I promise} that I will never again use a flood to destroy all living creatures. \*

Yes, whenever a rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and keep {my} permanent agreement which I have established with all people and all animals that {live} on the earth.”

Then God {concluded} by saying to Noah, “A rainbow {is} what I will use to remind {everyone} that I have made this agreement with all the people and animals that {live} on the earth.” \*

Noah’s sons who came out of the boat {after the flood} were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; it was Ham who {was} Canaan’s father.

It was the descendants of Noah’s three sons who populated the entire earth {again}. \*

After a while, Noah, who was a farmer, planted {some} grape vines {and made wine from the grapes}.

Then {one day} he drank {too much of} the wine, so that he became drunk and was {lying} naked inside his tent. \*

Ham, {who was} Canaan’s father, saw that his father was naked, and he went outside and told his two brothers {about it}.

However, Shem and Japheth took a robe, and held it {between them} at shoulder level and walked backward {into the tent} and covered their father’s naked body {with it}. {As they did that,} they kept their faces turned away {from him} so that they would not see him naked. \*

Later Noah woke up from being drunk, and he found out that his youngest son {Ham} had dishonored him.

So he exclaimed {about him}, “I {ask God to} curse {Ham’s son} Canaan! Canaan will be the lowest servant for his relatives.” \*

Then Noah said, “Praise God, {who is} the God {who takes care} of Shem! May God cause Canaan to be Shem’s servant. 27 I {also} ask God to give Japheth much {land} and enable him to live together {in peace} with Shem. May God {also} cause Canaan to be Japheth’s servant.” \*

From {the time that} the flood {began}, Noah lived {another} 350 years,

so that he lived a total of 950 years before he died. \*