Genesis 1:6-16

6 God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!"
7 God made sky. He separated the water under sky from the water above sky. And there it was:
8 he named sky the Heavens; It was evening, it was morning - Day Two.
9 God spoke: "Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!" And there it was.
10 God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good.
11 God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, Every sort of fruit-bearing tree." And there it was.
12 Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good.
13 It was evening, it was morning - Day Three.
14 God spoke: "Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years,
15 Lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth." And there it was.
16 God made two big lights, the larger to take charge of Day, The smaller to be in charge of Night; and he made the stars.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.