Then to Noe spoke our Preserver, Ruler of Heaven,
with holy voice:
"For you is a dwelling-place again appointed, fair1485
on the dry land, joys on earth and rest after your voyage.
Depart in peace out of the Ark, and lead forth upon the
bosom of the earth out of this lofty structure your com-
panions and all the creatures which I mercifully preserved1490
from the peril of the flood, while the deluge held sway
[and] covered your home with its abundance.[19]"
He did so, and obeyed the Lord, stood forth upon the
strand, as the Voice bade him, and with great joy led1495
out of the ship the survivors of these perils.
Then Noe began to institute a sacrifice to our Preserver,
and immediately took a part of all his possessions which
the Lord had given to him for his comfort, and then,1500
zealous for the offering, even to God Himself, King of
the Angels, the clear-souled man proffered the sacrifice.
Certainly our Saviour let it be known, when he blessed1505
Noe and his sons too, that [the patriarch] had given Him
this offering acceptably and in his youth had merited
by his good deeds that Almighty God, Glorious in
Splendor, should be gracious to him with all blessings.1510
Then again the Lord, Ruler of Glory, spoke a word to
Noe:
"Increase now and multiply, enjoy your honor, with
the gladness of peace: fill the earth, make all things teem.
Into your possession is given a noble heritage, the produce1515
of the sea, the fowls of heaven, and the wild beasts,—
the verdant earth and every treasure. You shall
never dishonorably procure your food through bloodshed,1520
sinfully stricken in its life-blood. Each one first of all
injures himself in the riches of the spirit, who with the
edge of the sword takes the life of another: nor shall
he dare to rejoice in thought over the spoils, for I will
avenge a man's death all the more severely upon the1525
slayer and upon the fratricide, in proportion as blood-
shed, the slaughter of a man with weapons, or murder by
[violent] hands, seems to succeed. Man was first created
in the likeness of God: every man has the form of the1530
Lord and of the Angels, whose virtues follow my holy
will. Increase and multiply, enjoy riches and honor on
earth. Fill the countries of the world with people, your
offspring, sons and daughters. I will set up for you this1535
my pledge, that I will never again let loose the floods
upon the earth, the waters over the broad lands: you
may see this witness frequently upon the clouds, when1540
I show my rainbow, [as proof] that I will certainly keep
this bond with men, while the world lasts."
Thus was the prudent son of Lamech, the keeper of
the heritage, disembarked from his ship after the flood1545
with his three sons; and their four wives were named
Percoba, Olla, Olliva, and Ollivani,[20] saved from the
waters by the true God. The stout-minded heroes,1550
the sons of Noe, were called Sem and Cham, and the third
Iafeth: from these warriors the nations sprang and all
this earth was filled with the children of men.
XIX.
Then for the second time Noe began to establish his1555
home, with his kinsfolk, and to till the earth for food;
he struggled and toiled, planted a vineyard, sowed many
seeds and tended them carefully, so that the green1560
earth, with its fertile boon, brought him fair harvests.