First ReadingGenesis 9:1-13*
From the Book of Genesis
1God blessed Noah and his sons,and said to them, “Be fruitful,multiply, and replenish the earth.2The fear of youand the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth,and on every bird of the sky.Everything that moves along the ground,and all the fish of the sea,are delivered into your hand.3Every moving thing that lives will be food for you.As I gave you the green herb,I have given everything to you.4But flesh with its life,that is, its blood,you shall not eat.5I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood.At the hand of every animal I will require it.At the hand of man,even at the hand of every man’s brother,I will require the life of man.6Whoever sheds man’s blood,his blood will be shed by man,for God made man in his own image.7Be fruitful and multiply.Increase abundantly on the earth, and multiply in it.”
8God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,9“As for me, behold,I establish my covenant with you,and with your offspring after you,10and with every living creature that is with you:the birds, the livestock,and every animal of the earth with you,of all that go out of the ship,even every animal of the earth.11I will establish my covenant with you:All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood.There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”12God said, “This is the token of the covenantwhich I make between meand you and every living creature that is with you,for perpetual generations:13I set my rainbow in the cloud,and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.