Genesis 1: The First Creation Story

Before the first beginning, God created everything. The world was shapeless, then, dust and water and swirling gravity, a sea of darkness and chaos. The Spirit of God hovered over it all, caressing it. 

And God said, "Let there be light," and at Their Word light flooded into existence. And God loved the light, and moved it to one side, so that there would still be a place for darkness too. They named the light day and the darkness night.

And it was evening and morning, the first day.

Then God said, "Let's make some room in here, so that everything isn't water," and They created a sky and atmosphere and separated the sea from the clouds. 

And it was evening, morning, the second day.

And God said, "Good, good. Let's do a little more of this creating by making space," and They moved the water to one side so there could be room for land too, and They named one "sea" and the other "land," and God loved them. The earth They filled with grass and bushes, with seeds and trees, fruits that hung high and vegetables and burrowed in the ground, with herbs that would flavor and heal, and God loved them all. 

And it was evening, morning, the third day.

And then God said, "We need a broader organizing principle for day and night, and ways to mark sacred days of remembrance and keep track of time," and They made the sun and stars and moon and hung them in the sky like Christmas ornaments on a tree, and They loved them too.

And it was evening, morning, the fourth day.

And then God said, "Water is where life will start. Let the water be overflowing with creatures." And They made fishes and whales and eels and water dinosaurs and then land dinosaurs (birds), and God loved them and blessed them saying, “Just like the seeds, fill up this world I've made for you."

And it was evening, morning, the fifth day.

And then God said, "I like the animal thing; let’s get some more of that." So They made horses and cows and elephants and donkeys and beetles and dragonflies and frogs and mosquitos. 

And then God made people. They said, "Let's make people look like us, male and female." So God made people who looked like Them, in Their image They made them; male and female They created Them. And God blessed them the same way They blessed the animals, and They said, "Just like the seeds and the animals, fill up this world I've made for you." And They also blessed them, saying, "I've given you stewardship here, and I expect you to exercise leadership on this earth, to make it better than you found it. I've given you everything—those trees are yours for tending and picking, those herbs are yours for picking and healing. Those animals are yours, for food and for making food, so be wise, see my gifts and use them well." And God saw everything They made, and They loved it. 

And it was evening, morning, the sixth day. 

Thus the world was made and finished in all its entirety. On the seventh day, God had done all of Their final polishing and editing, so They rested. And God made the seventh day holy, because on it They rested from the work of creating.