Genesis 11:1-8 ▼

1 Now the earth was of one language and of the same speech.

2 And when they were advancing from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt in it.

3 And each one said to his neighbor, “Come, let us make bricks, and bake them with fire.” And they had bricks instead of stones, and pitch instead of mortar.

4 And they said: “Come, let us make a city and a tower, so that its height may reach to heaven. And let us make our name famous before we are divided into all the lands.”

5 Then the Lord descended to see the city and the tower, which the sons of Adam were building.

6 And he said: “Behold, the people are united, and all have one tongue. And since they have begun to do this, they will not desist from their plans, until they have completed their work.

7 Therefore, come, let us descend, and in that place confound their tongue, so that they may not listen, each one to the voice of his neighbor.”

8 And so the Lord divided them from that place into all the lands, and they ceased to build the city.