In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep. But God’s Spirit hovered over the waters. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He saw that the light was good, so he separated the light from the darkness. He called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” This was the first day.
On the second day, God created the expanse, which separated the waters above from the waters below. He called the expanse “sky.”
On the third day, God gathered the waters under the sky into one place, and dry land appeared. He called the dry land “earth” and the gathered waters “seas.” Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit.” And it was so. The earth brought forth lush green plants and fruitful trees, each according to its kind.
On the fourth day, God made the sun, the moon, and the stars. He set them in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. He saw that it was good.
On the fifth day, God created the creatures of the sea and the birds of the sky. He blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
On the sixth day, God made the animals of the earth, each according to its kind¡ªcattle, creeping things, and wild beasts. He also created man in his own image, both male and female. God blessed them and told them to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all the creatures of the earth.
On the seventh day, God rested from all his work. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their hosts.