1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

2. The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

3. God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

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

5. God called the light "day", and the darkness he called "night". There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6. God said, "Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."

7. God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.

8. God called the expanse "sky". There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

9. God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.

10. God called the dry land "earth", and the gathering together of the waters he called "seas". God saw that it was good.

11. God said, "Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth"; and it was so.

12. The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

13. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

14. God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years;

20. "Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

21. Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.

The LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.

6. Your throne, God, is forever and ever.A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.

7. You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

24. I said, "My God, don't take me away in the middle of my days.Your years are throughout all generations.

25. Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth.The heavens are the work of your hands.

26. They will perish, but you will endure.Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.

27. But you are the same.Your years will have no end.