2Now the earth was formless and empty,1:2 Jr 4:23 darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.1:2 Jb 26:13; 33:4; Ps 33:6; 104:30

3Then God said, “Let there be light,”1:3 2Co 4:6 and there was light.

4God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

6Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.”1:6 Is 44:24; Jr 10:12

7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse.1:7 Ps 148:4 And it was so.

8God called the expanse “sky.”1:8 Or “heavens.” Evening came and then morning: the second day.

9Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place,1:9 Jb 38:8–11; Ps 33:7; 136:6; Jr 5:22; 2Pt 3:5 and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.

10God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.”1:11 Ps 65:9–13; 104:14 And it was so.

12The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

13Evening came and then morning: the third day.

14Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs1:14 Jr 10:2 for seasons1:14 Or for the appointed times and for days and years.1:14 Ps 104:19

15They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so.

16God made the two great lights — the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night — as well as the stars.1:16 Dt 4:19; Ps 136:7–9; Is 40:26

17God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth,

18to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.1:18 Jr 31:35 And God saw that it was good.

19Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

20Then God said, “Let the water swarm with1:20 Lit with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”

21So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water,1:21 Ps 104:25–28 according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

22God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”1:22 Gn 8:17; 9:1

23Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

24Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

25So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26Then God said, “Let us1:26 Gn 3:22; 11:7 make man1:26 Or human beings; Hb ’adam, also in v. 27 in1:26 Or as our image, according to our likeness.1:26 Gn 5:1,3; 9:6; Rm 8:29; 1Co 11:7; 15:49; 2Co 3:18; 4:4; Eph 4:24; Col 1:15; Jms 3:9 They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl1:26 Or scurry on the earth.”1:26 Gn 9:2; Ps 8:6–8; Jms 3:7