Chapter IV: Noah Commanded to Make an Ark

Jehovah unto Noah said:--
"I will destroy the earth,
For violence is in the land,
And wickedness and mirth.

"Men's hearts are full of laughter wild,
Their lives are full of sin;
And I will send destruction swift,
And show my power divine.

"I'll rain upon the earth a flood,
And drown men in the storm,
And they shall find no arm to save,
Amid their fearful gloom.

"But thee I have found true and good,
A follower of my ways;
And I will save thee from the flood,
And lengthen out thy days.

"Now therefore build thyself an ark,
According to my word;
To save thyself and family,
For ye have fear'd the Lord.

"For every thing that now has life,
And all things that have breath,
Even for the wickedness of man,
I do devote to death.

"I am the Lord, the mighty one,
I, even I, do speak;
The flood upon the earth I'll bring,
And nought my word shall break."

Noah prepared to build the ark,
The tidings did him grieve;
Yet it was just, and every word
He did at once believe.