Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The heavens and the earth had been completed, along with all their vast array. God finished his work on the seventh day and rested from all his work, for he had created everything perfectly.

God blessed the seventh day, setting it apart as a time of rest, because on that day he had finally stopped working to create the universe. These are the generations of heaven and earth when they were formed by the Lord God, who brought order to the earth and the sky in the beginning.

The world was still barren, with no vegetation growing, for the Lord God hadn't sent rain yet, and there was no one to cultivate the soil. But a mist rose from the ground, watering the entire surface of the land.

God created humanity by shaping them from the dust of the earth and breathing into their nostrils the breath of life. This act gave them a living spirit, and they became human beings with a deep connection to God.

The Lord God planted a beautiful garden in Eden, eastward, where he placed the man he had just created. From the ground, God caused every tree that was pleasing to the eye and good for food to grow – including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

A river flowed out of Eden, watering the garden, and then branched into four main rivers: Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates. The land around these rivers was rich with gold, bdellium, and onyx stones.

The Lord God put Adam in charge of caring for the garden, instructing him to cultivate and maintain its beauty. "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden," God said, "except for one tree – the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat from it, you will certainly die."

But as time passed, Adam realized that something was missing. The Lord God declared, "It's not right for the man to be alone; I'll create a suitable companion for him." So God took every animal on earth and brought them to Adam, asking him to name each one.

Adam named all the creatures – from cattle to birds in the air and beasts of the field. But despite this newfound understanding of creation's diversity, Adam still lacked someone like himself. Then the Lord God put Adam into a deep sleep and took a rib from his side while he was asleep.

From that rib, God created Eve, bringing her to Adam. He gazed at her with wonder and said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she will be called Woman because she was taken out of Man." This marked the beginning of a new bond between two people who were meant to be together.

Adam and Eve were both naked yet felt no shame or guilt. They knew they were connected in a profound way, a connection that would bring them joy and strength for generations to come.