Noah'sArk诺亚方舟

　　Genesis创世记

　　ThisisthestoryofNoah.Noahwasarighteousman,theoneblamelessmanofhistime;hewalkedwithGod.Hehadthreesons,Shem,HamandJapheth.NowGodsawthatthewholeworldwascorruptandfullofviolence.Inhissighttheworldhadbecomecorrupted,forallmenhadlivedcorruptlivesonearth.GodsaidtoNoah,‘Theloathsomenessofallmankindhasbecomeplaintome,forthroughthemtheearthisfullofviolence.Iintendtodestroythem,andtheearthwiththem.Makeyourselfanarkwithribsofcypress;coveritwithreedsandcoatitinsideandoutwithpitch.Iintendtobringthewatersofthefloodovertheearthtodestroyeveryhumanbeingunderheaventhathasthespiritoflife;everythingonearthshallperish.ButwithyouIwillmakeacovenant,andyoushallgointotheark,youandyoursons,yourwifeandyoursons’wiveswithyou.Andyoushallbringlivingcreaturesofeverykindintothearktokeepthemalivewithyou.Twoofeachkind,amaleandafemale;twoofeverykindofbird,beast,andreptile,shallcometoyoutobekeptalive.Seethatyoutakeandstoreeverykindoffoodthatcanbeeaten;thisshallbefoodforyouandforthem.’ExactlyasGodhadcommandedhim,soNoahdid.

　　下面是诺亚的故事.诺亚是一个正直的人,在当时是一个完人.他追随上帝行事.他有三个儿子：闪、含、和雅弗.上帝看见整个世界腐朽了,到处都是暴力.他认为世界充斥着罪恶,因为所有世上的人都过着邪恶的生活.上帝对诺亚说：“人类的可憎我再清楚不过了,他们使这世界充满了仇杀.我有意要毁灭他们,也毁灭掉同他们一起的这个世界.你要为自己造一艘方舟,用丝柏木做船架,覆盖上芦苇,再在里外两面涂上树脂.我要使洪水泛滥全世界,消灭天下所有活着的人,地上万物也要消灭光.但我要与你立约.你到时就带着你的妻子、儿子、儿媳们一起进入方舟.你还要把各种飞禽、走兽、爬虫,每样两只,雌雄各一带上,和你一道登舟,在船上喂养好.此外还要带上各种吃的东西,储存在船上,作为你们和动物的食粮.”诺亚遵照上帝的话,一一办到了.

　　Andso,toescapethewatersoftheflood,Noahwentintothearkwithhissons,hiswife,andhissons’wives.AndintothearkwithNoahwentonepair,maleandfemale,ofallbeasts,cleanandunclean,ofbirdsandofeverythingthatcrawlsontheground,twobytwo,asGodhadcommanded.Towardstheendofsevendaysthewatersofthefloodcameupontheearth.IntheyearwhenNoahwassixhundredyearsold,ontheseventeenthdayofthesecondmonth,onthatveryday,allthespringsofthegreatabyssbrokethrough,thewindowsoftheskywereopened,andrainfellontheearthforfortydaysandfortynights…Thefloodcontinuedupontheearthforfortydays,andthewatersswelledandliftedupthearksothatitrosehighabovetheground.Moreandmorethewatersincreasedovertheearthuntiltheycoveredallthehighmountainseverywhereunderheaven.Thewatersincreasedandthemountainswerecoveredtoadepthoffifteencubits.Everythingdiedthathadthebreathoflifeinitsnostrils,everythingondryland.Godwipedouteverylivingthingthatexistedonearth,manandbeast,reptileandbird;theywereallwipedoutoverthewholeearth,andonlyNoahandhiscompanyinthearksurvived.诺亚方舟未来的样子这样,为了躲避洪水,诺亚和他的妻、子及儿媳们都上了方舟.和他一起上船的还有那些动物：洁净的和不洁净的牲畜,每种都是雌雄一对；所有的鸟类和地上的爬虫,也是一对一对的,按上帝的吩咐那样都上了船.第七天结束的时候,洪水降临到大地.那年诺亚是六百岁,二月十七日那天,大深渊的所有泉源一齐喷发起来,天穹洞开,大雨倾盆,不停地下了四十个昼夜.……洪水泛滥了四十天,大水涨起来把方舟托起,高高地升离地面之上.落在地面的水越来越多,淹没了天下所有的高山.水一直涨到浸没高山十五腕尺之深.一切有气息的生物,所有生活在陆地上的东西,全都没有了.上帝清除了世上的生物,人也好,兽也好,爬虫也好,飞鸟也好,全部从地面上消灭干净,惟独诺亚和在方舟上的他一起的妻子儿媳、鸟兽爬虫活了下来.

　　AfterfortydaysNoahopenedthetrap-doorthathehadmadeintheark,andreleasedaraventoseewhetherthewaterhadsubsided,butthebirdcontinuedflyingtoandfrountilthewaterontheearthhaddriedup.Noahwaitedforsevendays,andthenhereleasedadovefromthearktoseewhetherthe