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Genesis 11:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Genesis 11:1 NLT

At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.

Genesis 11:2 NLT

As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there.

Genesis 11:3 NLT

They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.)

Genesis 11:4 NLT

Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

Genesis 11:5 NLT

But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.

Genesis 11:6 NLT

“Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!

Genesis 11:7 NLT

Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

Genesis 11:8 NLT

In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city.

Genesis 11:9 NLT

That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.