Myths, Gods, and Men
Fall 2006 Readings - Week 12
Flood Myth 1 of 2
Vulgate Bible - Book of Genesis 6:11 - 8:22
Read November 28, 2006 by Will Claborn
| VI. [1] cumque coepissent homines multiplicari super terram et filias procreassent [2] videntes filii Dei filias eorum quod essent pulchrae acceperunt uxores sibi ex omnibus quas elegerant [3] dixitque Deus non permanebit spiritus meus in homine in aeternum quia caro est eruntque dies illius centum viginti annorum [4] gigantes autem erant super terram in diebus illis postquam enim ingressi sunt filii Dei ad filias hominum illaeque genuerunt isti sunt potentes a saeculo viri famosi [5] videns autem Deus quod multa malitia hominum esset in terra et cuncta cogitatio cordis intenta esset ad malum omni tempore [6] paenituit eum quod hominem fecisset in terra et tactus dolore cordis intrinsecus [7] delebo inquit hominem quem creavi a facie terrae ab homine usque ad animantia a reptili usque ad volucres caeli paenitet enim me fecisse eos [8] Noe vero invenit gratiam coram Domino [9] hae generationes Noe Noe vir iustus atque perfectus fuit in generationibus suis cum Deo ambulavit [10] et genuit tres filios Sem Ham et Iafeth [11] corrupta est autem terra coram Deo et repleta est iniquitate [12] cumque vidisset Deus terram esse corruptam omnis quippe caro corruperat viam suam super terram [13] dixit ad Noe finis universae carnis venit coram me repleta est terra iniquitate a facie eorum et ego disperdam eos cum terra [14] fac tibi arcam de lignis levigatis mansiunculas in arca facies et bitumine linies intrinsecus et extrinsecus [15] et sic facies eam trecentorum cubitorum erit longitudo arcae quinquaginta cubitorum latitudo et triginta cubitorum altitudo illius [16] fenestram in arca facies et in cubito consummabis summitatem ostium autem arcae pones ex latere deorsum cenacula et tristega facies in ea [17] ecce ego adducam diluvii aquas super terram ut interficiam omnem carnem in qua spiritus vitae est subter caelum universa quae in terra sunt consumentur [18] ponamque foedus meum tecum et ingredieris arcam tu et filii tui uxor tua et uxores filiorum tuorum tecum [19] et ex cunctis animantibus universae carnis bina induces in arcam ut vivant tecum masculini sexus et feminini [20] de volucribus iuxta genus suum et de iumentis in genere suo et ex omni reptili terrae secundum genus suum bina de omnibus ingredientur tecum ut possint vivere [21] tolles igitur tecum ex omnibus escis quae mandi possunt et conportabis apud te et erunt tam tibi quam illis in cibum [22] fecit ergo Noe omnia quae praeceperat illi Deus VII. [1] dixitque Dominus ad eum ingredere tu et omnis domus tua arcam te enim vidi iustum coram me in generatione hac [2] ex omnibus animantibus mundis tolle septena septena masculum et feminam de animantibus vero non mundis duo duo masculum et feminam [3] sed et de volatilibus caeli septena septena masculum et feminam ut salvetur semen super faciem universae terrae [4] adhuc enim et post dies septem ego pluam super terram quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus et delebo omnem substantiam quam feci de superficie terrae [5] fecit ergo Noe omnia quae mandaverat ei Dominus [6] eratque sescentorum annorum quando diluvii aquae inundaverunt super terram [7] et ingressus est Noe et filii eius uxor eius et uxores filiorum eius cum eo in arcam propter aquas diluvii [8] de animantibus quoque mundis et inmundis et de volucribus et ex omni quod movetur super terram [9] duo et duo ingressa sunt ad Noe in arcam masculus et femina sicut praeceperat Deus Noe [10] cumque transissent septem dies aquae diluvii inundaverunt super terram [11] anno sescentesimo vitae Noe mense secundo septimodecimo die mensis rupti sunt omnes fontes abyssi magnae et cataractae caeli apertae sunt [12] et facta est pluvia super terram quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus [13] in articulo diei illius ingressus est Noe et Sem et Ham et Iafeth filii eius uxor illius et tres uxores filiorum eius cum eis in arcam [14] ipsi et omne animal secundum genus suum universaque iumenta in genus suum et omne quod movetur super terram in genere suo cunctumque volatile secundum genus suum universae aves omnesque volucres [15] ingressae sunt ad Noe in arcam bina et bina ex omni carne in qua erat spiritus vitae [16] et quae ingressa sunt masculus et femina ex omni carne introierunt sicut praeceperat ei Deus et inclusit eum Dominus de foris [17] factumque est diluvium quadraginta diebus super terram et multiplicatae sunt aquae et elevaverunt arcam in sublime a terra [18] vehementer inundaverunt et omnia repleverunt in superficie terrae porro arca ferebatur super aquas [19] et aquae praevaluerunt nimis super terram opertique sunt omnes montes excelsi sub universo caelo [20] quindecim cubitis altior fuit aqua super montes quos operuerat [21] consumptaque est omnis caro quae movebatur super terram volucrum animantium bestiarum omniumque reptilium quae reptant super terram universi homines [22] et cuncta in quibus spiraculum vitae est in terra mortua sunt [23] et delevit omnem substantiam quae erat super terram ab homine usque ad pecus tam reptile quam volucres caeli et deleta sunt de terra remansit autem solus Noe et qui cum eo erant in arca [24] obtinueruntque aquae terras centum quinquaginta diebus VIII. [1] recordatus autem Deus Noe cunctarumque animantium et omnium iumentorum quae erant cum eo in arca adduxit spiritum super terram et inminutae sunt aquae [2] et clausi sunt fontes abyssi et cataractae caeli et prohibitae sunt pluviae de caelo [3] reversaeque aquae de terra euntes et redeuntes et coeperunt minui post centum quinquaginta dies [4] requievitque arca mense septimo vicesima septima die mensis super montes Armeniae [5] at vero aquae ibant et decrescebant usque ad decimum mensem decimo enim mense prima die mensis apparuerunt cacumina montium [6] cumque transissent quadraginta dies aperiens Noe fenestram arcae quam fecerat dimisit corvum [7] qui egrediebatur et revertebatur donec siccarentur aquae super terram [8] emisit quoque columbam post eum ut videret si iam cessassent aquae super faciem terrae [9] quae cum non invenisset ubi requiesceret pes eius reversa est ad eum in arcam aquae enim erant super universam terram extenditque manum et adprehensam intulit in arcam [10] expectatis autem ultra septem diebus aliis rursum dimisit columbam ex arca [11] at illa venit ad eum ad vesperam portans ramum olivae virentibus foliis in ore suo intellexit ergo Noe quod cessassent aquae super terram [12] expectavitque nihilominus septem alios dies et emisit columbam quae non est reversa ultra ad eum [13] igitur sescentesimo primo anno primo mense prima die mensis inminutae sunt aquae super terram et aperiens Noe tectum arcae aspexit viditque quod exsiccata esset superficies terrae [14] mense secundo septima et vicesima die mensis arefacta est terra [15] locutus est autem Deus ad Noe dicens [16] egredere de arca tu et uxor tua filii tui et uxores filiorum tuorum tecum [17] cuncta animantia quae sunt apud te ex omni carne tam in volatilibus quam in bestiis et in universis reptilibus quae reptant super terram educ tecum et ingredimini super terram crescite et multiplicamini super eam [18] egressus est ergo Noe et filii eius uxor illius et uxores filiorum eius cum eo [19] sed et omnia animantia iumenta et reptilia quae repunt super terram secundum genus suum arcam egressa sunt [20] aedificavit autem Noe altare Domino et tollens de cunctis pecoribus et volucribus mundis obtulit holocausta super altare [21] odoratusque est Dominus odorem suavitatis et ait ad eum nequaquam ultra maledicam terrae propter homines sensus enim et cogitatio humani cordis in malum prona sunt ab adulescentia sua non igitur ultra percutiam omnem animantem sicut feci [22] cunctis diebus terrae sementis et messis frigus et aestus aestas et hiemps nox et dies non requiescent |
VI. [1] And after that men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and daughters were born to them, [2] The sons of God seeing the daughters of men, that they were fair, took to themselves wives of all which they chose. [3] And God said: My spirit shall not remain in man for ever, because he is flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. [4] Now giants were upon the earth in those days. For after the sons of God went in to the daughters of men, and they brought forth children, these are the mighty men of old, men of renown. [5] And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times, [6] It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with sorrow of heart, [7] He said: I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from man even to beasts, from the creeping thing even to the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. [8] But Noe found grace before the Lord. [9] These are the generations of Noe: Noe was a just and perfect man in his generations, he walked with God. [10] And he begot three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth. [11] And the earth was corrupted before God, and was filled with iniquity. [12] And when God had seen that the earth was corrupted (for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth,) [13] He said to Noe: The end of all flesh is come before me, the earth is filled with iniquity through them, and I will destroy them with the earth. [14] Make thee an ark of timber planks: thou shalt make little rooms in the ark, and thou shalt pitch it within and without. [15] And thus shalt thou make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits: the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. [16] Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make it. [17] Behold I will bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, under heaven. All things that are in the earth shall be consumed. [18] And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives of thy sons with thee. [19] And of every living creature of all flesh, thou shalt bring two of a sort into the ark, that they may live with thee: of the male sex, and the female. [20] Of fowls according to their kind, and of beasts in their kind, and of every thing that creepeth on the earth according to its kind; two of every sort shall go in with thee, that they may live. [21] Thou shalt take unto thee of all food that may be eaten, and thou shalt lay it up with thee: and it shall be food for thee and them. [22] And Noe did all things which God commanded him. VII. [1] And the Lord said to him: Go in thou and all thy house into the ark: for thee I have seen just before me in this generation. [2] Of all clean beasts take seven and seven, the male and the female. [3] But of the beasts that are unclean two and two, the male and the female. Of the fowls also of the air seven and seven, the male and the female: that seed may be saved upon the face of the whole earth. [4] For yet a while, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will destroy every substance that I have made, from the face of the earth. [5] And Noe did all things which the Lord had commanded him. [6] And he was six hundred years old, when the waters of the flood overflowed the earth. [7] And Noe went in and his sons, his wife and the wives of his sons with him into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. [8] And of beasts clean and unclean, and of fowls, and of every thing that moveth upon the earth, [9] Two and two went in to Noe into the ark, male and female, as the Lord had commanded Noe. [10] And after the seven days were passed, the waters of the flood overflowed the earth. [11] In the six hundredth year of the life of Noe, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the flood gates of heaven were opened: [12] And the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. [13] In the selfsame day Noe, and Sem, and Cham, and Japheth his sons: his wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, went into the ark: [14] They and every beast according to its kind, and all the cattle in their kind, and every thing that moveth upon the earth according to its kind, and every fowl according to its kind, all birds, and all that fly, [15] Went in to Noe into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein was the breath of life. [16] And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in on the outside. [17] And the flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and lifted up the ark on high from the earth. [18] For they overflowed exceedingly: and filled all on the face of the earth: and the ark was carried upon the waters. [19] And the waters prevailed beyond measure upon the earth: and all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. [20] The water was fifteen cubits higher than the mountains which it covered. [21] And all flesh was destroyed that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beasts, and of all creeping things that creep upon the earth: and all men. [22] And all things wherein there is the breath of life on the earth, died. [23] And he destroyed all the substance that was upon the earth, from man even to beast, and the creeping things and fowls of the air: and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noe only remained, and they that were with him in the ark. [24] And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. VIII. [1] And God remembered Noe, and all the living creatures, and all the cattle which were with him in the ark, and brought a wind upon the earth, and the waters were abated. [2] The fountains also of the deep, and the flood gates of heaven were shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained. [3] And the waters returned from off the earth going and coming: and they began to be abated after a hundred and fifty days. [4] And the ark rested in the seventh month, the seven and twentieth day of the month, upon the mountains of Armenia. [5] And the waters were going and decreasing until the tenth month: for in the tenth month, the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared. [6] And after that forty days were passed, Noe, opening the window of the ark which he had made, sent forth a raven: [7] Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth. [8] He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth. [9] But she, not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark. [10] And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark. [11] And she came to him in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth. [12] And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, which returned not any more unto him. [13] Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth, and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face of the earth was dried. [14] In the second month, the seven and twentieth day of the month, the earth was dried. [15] And God spoke to Noe, saying: [16] Go out of the ark, thou and thy wife, thy sons, and the wives of thy sons with thee. [17] All living things that are with thee of all flesh, as well in fowls as in beasts, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, bring out with thee, and go ye upon the earth: increase and multiply upon it. [18] So Noe went out, he and his sons: his wife, and the wives of his sons with him. [19] And all living things, and cattle, and creeping things that creep upon the earth, according to their kinds, went out of the ark. [20] And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all cattle and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar. [21] And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done. [22] All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease. |
Source Information
Latin: Jerome. Vulgate Bible. Bible Foundation and On-Line Book Initiative. http://www.theworld.com/obi/Religion/Vulgate/
[Via Perseus]
English: Douay-Rheims Bible Online [Link]