The Covenant of the Rainbow

1  וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ (And blessed) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God) אֶת־ (-) נֹ֖חַ (Noah) וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֑יו (his sons) וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (and said) לָהֶ֛ם (to them), פְּר֥וּ (Be fruitful) וּרְב֖וּ (and multiply), וּמִלְא֥וּ (and fill) אֶת־ (-) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth). 2  וּמוֹרַאֲכֶ֤ם (And the fear of you⁺) וְחִתְּכֶם֙ (and the dread of you⁺) יִֽהְיֶ֔ה (shall be) עַ֚ל (on) כָּל־ (every) חַיַּ֣ת (beast) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth), וְעַ֖ל (and on) כָּל־ (every) ע֣וֹף (bird) הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (of the heavens), בְּכֹל֩ (on all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) תִּרְמֹ֧שׂ (moves) הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה (on the earth), וּֽבְכָל־ (and on all) דְּגֵ֥י (the fish) הַיָּ֖ם (of the sea). בְּיֶדְכֶ֥ם (Into your⁺ hand) נִתָּֽנוּ׃ (they are given). 3  כָּל־ (Every) רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙ (moving thing) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הוּא־ (has in it) חַ֔י (life), לָכֶ֥ם (for you⁺) יִהְיֶ֖ה (it shall be) לְאָכְלָ֑ה (for food). כְּיֶ֣רֶק (As the green) עֵ֔שֶׂב (plants), נָתַ֥תִּי (have I given) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) כֹּֽל׃ (everything). 4  אַךְ־ (But) בָּשָׂ֕ר (flesh) בְּנַפְשׁ֥וֹ (with its life) דָמ֖וֹ (its blood), לֹ֥א (not) תֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (shall you⁺ eat). 5  וְאַ֨ךְ (And surely) אֶת־ (-) דִּמְכֶ֤ם (your⁺ blood) לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ (for your⁺ lives) אֶדְרֹ֔שׁ (I will require); מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) כָּל־ (of every) חַיָּ֖ה (beast) אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ (I will require it), וּמִיַּ֣ד (and from the hand) הָֽאָדָ֗ם (of the man). מִיַּד֙ (From the hand) אִ֣ישׁ (of each man’s) אָחִ֔יו (brother), אֶדְרֹ֖שׁ (I will require) אֶת־ (-) נֶ֥פֶשׁ (for the life) הָֽאָדָֽם׃ (of the man).

6  שֹׁפֵךְ֙ (Whoever sheds) דַּ֣ם (the blood) הָֽאָדָ֔ם (of the man),

בָּֽאָדָ֖ם (by the man) דָּמ֣וֹ (his blood) יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ (shall be shed);

כִּ֚י (for) בְּצֶ֣לֶם (in the image) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God)

עָשָׂ֖ה (He has made) אֶת־ (-) הָאָדָֽם׃ (the man).

7  וְאַתֶּ֖ם (And you⁺),

פְּר֣וּ (be fruitful) וּרְב֑וּ (and multiply);

שִׁרְצ֥וּ (swarm) בָאָ֖רֶץ (on the earth),

וּרְבוּ־ (and multiply) בָֽהּ׃ס (on it).

8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) אֶל־ (to) נֹ֔חַ (Noah) וְאֶל־ (and to) בָּנָ֥יו (his sons) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  וַאֲנִ֕י (And I), הִנְנִ֥י (behold, I), מֵקִ֛ים (am establishing) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִיתִ֖י (My covenant) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺) וְאֶֽת־ (and with) זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם (your⁺ seed) אַֽחֲרֵיכֶֽם׃ (after you⁺), 10  וְאֵ֨ת (and with) כָּל־ (every) נֶ֤פֶשׁ (creature) הַֽחַיָּה֙ (living) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) אִתְּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺)— בָּע֧וֹף (among the bird), בַּבְּהֵמָ֛ה (among the livestock), וּֽבְכָל־ (and among every) חַיַּ֥ת (beast) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the earth) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺) מִכֹּל֙ (from all) יֹצְאֵ֣י (those going out) הַתֵּבָ֔ה (of the ark)— לְכֹ֖ל (to every) חַיַּ֥ת (beast) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth). 11  וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י (And I have establishd) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִיתִי֙ (My covenant) אִתְּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺): וְלֹֽא־ (That not) יִכָּרֵ֧ת (shall be cut off) כָּל־ (all) בָּשָׂ֛ר (flesh) ע֖וֹד (again) מִמֵּ֣י (by the waters) הַמַּבּ֑וּל (of the flood); וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִהְיֶ֥ה (shall there be) ע֛וֹד (again) מַבּ֖וּל (a flood) לְשַׁחֵ֥ת (to destroy) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (God), זֹ֤את (This is) אֽוֹת־ (the sign) הַבְּרִית֙ (of the covenant), אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I) נֹתֵ֗ן (am giving) בֵּינִי֙ (between Me) וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם (and between you⁺) וּבֵ֛ין (and between) כָּל־ (every) נֶ֥פֶשׁ (soul) חַיָּ֖ה (living) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺), לְדֹרֹ֖ת (for generations) עוֹלָֽם׃ (everlasting). 13  אֶת־ (-) קַשְׁתִּ֕י (My bow) נָתַ֖תִּי (I have set) בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן (in the cloud), וְהָֽיְתָה֙ (and it shall be) לְא֣וֹת (for a sign) בְּרִ֔ית (of the covenant) בֵּינִ֖י (between Me) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

14  וְהָיָ֕ה (And it shall come to pass) בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י (in My bringing) עָנָ֖ן (a cloud) עַל־ (over) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the earth), וְנִרְאֲתָ֥ה (that shall be seen) הַקֶּ֖שֶׁת (the bow) בֶּעָנָֽן׃ (in the cloud), 15  וְזָכַרְתִּ֣י (and I will remember) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִיתִ֗י (My covenant), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that is) בֵּינִי֙ (between Me) וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם (and between you⁺) וּבֵ֛ין (and between) כָּל־ (every) נֶ֥פֶשׁ (creature) חַיָּ֖ה (living) בְּכָל־ (of all) בָּשָׂ֑ר (flesh); וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִֽהְיֶ֨ה (become) ע֤וֹד (again) הַמַּ֙יִם֙ (the waters) לְמַבּ֔וּל (a flood) לְשַׁחֵ֖ת (to destroy) כָּל־ (all) בָּשָֽׂר׃ (flesh). 16  וְהָיְתָ֥ה (And shall be) הַקֶּ֖שֶׁת (the bow) בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן (in the cloud), וּרְאִיתִ֗יהָ (and I will look on it), לִזְכֹּר֙ (to remember) בְּרִ֣ית (the covenant) עוֹלָ֔ם (everlasting) בֵּ֣ין (between) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God) וּבֵין֙ (and between) כָּל־ (every) נֶ֣פֶשׁ (soul) חַיָּ֔ה (living) בְּכָל־ (of all) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) עַל־ (on) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

17  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶל־ (to) נֹ֑חַ (Noah), זֹ֤את (This is) אֽוֹת־ (the sign) הַבְּרִית֙ (of the covenant), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הֲקִמֹ֔תִי (I have established) בֵּינִ֕י (between Me) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) כָּל־ (all) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) עַל־ (on) הָאָֽרֶץ׃פ (the earth).

Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse

18  וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ (And were) בְנֵי־ (the sons) נֹ֗חַ (of Noah) הַיֹּֽצְאִים֙ (who went out) מִן־ (from) הַתֵּבָ֔ה (the ark) שֵׁ֖ם (Shem), וְחָ֣ם (and Ham), וָיָ֑פֶת (and Japheth); וְחָ֕ם (and Ham) ה֖וּא (he was) אֲבִ֥י (the father) כְנָֽעַן׃ (of Canaan). 19  שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (Three) אֵ֖לֶּה (these were) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) נֹ֑חַ (of Noah), וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה (and from these) נָֽפְצָ֥ה (was scattered) כָל־ (all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

20  וַיָּ֥חֶל (And began) נֹ֖חַ (Noah) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה (of the ground), וַיִּטַּ֖ע (and he planted) כָּֽרֶם׃ (a vineyard). 21  וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ (And he drank) מִן־ (from) הַיַּ֖יִן (the wine) וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר (and became drunk), וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל (and uncovered himself) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) אָהֳלֹֽה׃ (of his tent). 22  וַיַּ֗רְא (And saw) חָ֚ם (Ham), אֲבִ֣י (the father) כְנַ֔עַן (of Canaan), אֵ֖ת (-) עֶרְוַ֣ת (the nakedness) אָבִ֑יו (of his father), וַיַּגֵּ֥ד (and he told) לִשְׁנֵֽי־ (two) אֶחָ֖יו (his brothers) בַּחֽוּץ׃ (outside).

23  וַיִּקַּח֩ (And took) שֵׁ֨ם (Shem) וָיֶ֜פֶת (and Japheth) אֶת־ (-) הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה (the garment), וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ (and they laid it) עַל־ (on) שְׁכֶ֣ם (the shoulders) שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם (of the two of them), וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (and they went) אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית (backward), וַיְכַסּ֕וּ (and covered) אֵ֖ת (-) עֶרְוַ֣ת (the nakedness) אֲבִיהֶ֑ם (of their father); וּפְנֵיהֶם֙ (and their faces) אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית (were backward), וְעֶרְוַ֥ת (and the nakedness) אֲבִיהֶ֖ם (of their father) לֹ֥א (not) רָאֽוּ׃ (they saw).

24  וַיִּ֥יקֶץ (And awoke) נֹ֖חַ (Noah) מִיֵּינ֑וֹ (from his wine), וַיֵּ֕דַע (and he knew) אֵ֛ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) עָ֥שָׂה־ (had done) ל֖וֹ (to him) בְּנ֥וֹ (his son) הַקָּטָֽן׃ (the youngest). 25  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said),

אָר֣וּר (Cursed be) כְּנָ֑עַן (Canaan)!

עֶ֥בֶד (A servant) עֲבָדִ֖ים (of servants)

יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (he shall be) לְאֶחָֽיו׃ (to his brothers).

Shem’s Blessing and Noah’s Death

26  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said),

בָּר֥וּךְ (Blessed be) יְהֹוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹ֣הֵי (the God) שֵׁ֑ם (of Shem);

וִיהִ֥י (and may be) כְנַ֖עַן (Canaan) עֶ֥בֶד (a servant) לָֽמוֹ׃ (to him).

27  יַ֤פְתְּ (May enlarge) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) לְיֶ֔פֶת (Japheth),

וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן (and may he dwell) בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־ (in the tents) שֵׁ֑ם (of Shem);

וִיהִ֥י (and may be) כְנַ֖עַן (Canaan) עֶ֥בֶד (a servant) לָֽמוֹ׃ (to them).

28  וַֽיְחִי־ (And lived) נֹ֖חַ (Noah) אַחַ֣ר (after) הַמַּבּ֑וּל (the flood) שְׁלֹ֤שׁ (three) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (and fifty) שָׁנָֽה׃ (years). 29  וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ (And were) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵי־ (the days) נֹ֔חַ (of Noah) תְּשַׁ֤ע (nine) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (and fifty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וַיָּמֹֽת׃פ (and he died).