no shrubs had yet grown in the meadows of the earth and no vegetation had sprouted, because the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there were no human beings to work the ground.

So the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being.

For if Cain is being avenged seven times, then Lamech will be avenged 77 times."

Now after the population of human beings had increased throughout the earth, and daughters had been born to them,

some divine beings noticed how attractive human women were, so they took wives for themselves from a selection that pleased them.

So the LORD said, "My Spirit won't remain with human beings forever, because they're truly mortal. Their lifespan will be 120 years."

The Nephilim were on the earth at that time (and also immediately afterward), when those divine beings were having sexual relations with those human women, who gave birth to children for them. These children became the heroes and legendary figures of ancient times.

Then the LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and he was deeply grieved about that.

So the LORD said, "I will annihilate these human beings whom I've created from the earth, including people, animals, crawling things, and flying creatures, because I'm grieving that I made them."

Every living thing on earth died flying creatures, livestock, wildlife, all creatures that swarm over the earth, and all human beings.

When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, he told himself, "I will never again curse the land because of human beings even though human inclinations remain evil from youth nor will I destroy every living being ever again, as I've done.

Also, I will certainly demand an accounting regarding bloodshed, from every animal and from every human being. I'll demand an accounting from every human being for the life of another human being.

"Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image.

I will establish my covenant with you: No living beings will ever be cut off again by flood waters, and there will never again be a flood that destroys the earth."

God also said, "Here's the symbol that represents the covenant that I'm making between me and you and every living being with you, for all future generations:

I'll remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature, so that water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings.

When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will observe it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living beings on the earth."

Some time later, a message came from the LORD to Abram in a vision. "Stop being afraid, Abram," he said. "I myself your shield am your very great reward."

Abraham was very troubled about what was being said about his son,

One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau happened to come in from being outdoors, and he was feeling famished.

Later, the LORD noticed that Leah was being neglected, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless.

Jacob was thinking, "I'll pacify him with the presents that are being sent ahead of me. Then, when I meet him, perhaps he'll accept me." So the presents went ahead of him, while he spent that night in the camp.

So she took off her mourning apparel, covered herself with a shawl, and concealed her outward appearance. Then she went out and sat at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah, because she knew that even though Shelah had grown up, she wasn't being given to him as his wife.

because I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. Not only that, I haven't done anything that deserves me being confined to this pit."

"I can't do that," Joseph replied, "but God is concerned about Pharaoh's well-being."

"The man who was in charge of the land spoke harshly to us," they said. "He accused us of being spies!

The men were terrified as they were being taken to Joseph's palace. "It's because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him," they reasoned. "He's seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!"

"Relax," the manager said. "You can stop being afraid, now. Your God, the God of your father, has placed hidden treasure within those sacks for you. I've been paid in full." Then he brought Simeon out to them,

So Joseph kept on accumulating all the money that was to be found throughout Egypt and Canaan in exchange for the grain that was being purchased. He stored the money in Pharaoh's palace.