Noah’s Descendants

18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were fShem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and gfrom these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.2

20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.3 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine hand knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

i“Cursed be Canaan;

ja servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

26 He also said,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;

and let Canaan be his servant.

27  May God enlarge Japheth,4

and let him dwell in the tents of Shem,

and let Canaan be his servant.”