(ll. 1637-1639) Now there was yet one common tongue for all men
on the earth. And a great tribe was born of the stem of Ham and
a mighty people spreading far and wide.
(ll. 1640-1660) And Shem begat a host of free-born sons and
daughters, and, after many winters, went to his last rest. In
that tribe men were good! One of the sons of Shem was Eber, and
from him sprang a countless race which all men dwelling in the
earth call Hebrews. They departed out of the east, taking with
them all their substance, their cattle and their goods. That was
a dauntless folk! The heroes sought a roomier land, a wandering
folk, in mighty multitudes, and chose at last a fixed abode
wherein to settle. Far and wide in days of old the leaders of
that people, with their well-loved men, possessed the land of
Shinar, a land of green plains and pleasant valleys. And at that
time they prospered greatly, and had abundance of all good
things.
(ll. 1661-1678) Then many a man besought his friend, and one
stout warrior urged another, that, before their multitude and the
tribes of their people should be scattered again over the face of
the whole earth in search of land, they should build a city to
their glory and rear a tower unto the stars of heaven, to be a
sign that they had sought the land of Shinar, where of old the
mighty leaders of the folk had lived at ease. And they sought
out men for this work and deed of sin, in rash pride showing
forth their strength. Greedy for glory, they reared a city with
their hands, and raised a ladder up to heaven, and in their vain
strength built a wall of stone beyond the measure of men.
(ll. 1678-1701) Then came Holy God to look upon the work of the
children of men, the citadel and the tower which the sons of Adam
were beginning to rear unto heaven. Stern of heart, the King
reproved their folly, and in His wrath confounded the tongues of
the dwellers of earth, and they might not prosper in their
speech. Then the leaders of the work in pride of strength met
together about the tower in many bands. But no one band could
understand another. And they left off to build the wall of
stone, and were wretchedly sundered into tribes divided by their
speech. And every tribe became alien to every other tribe, when
the Lord in His might sundered the speech of men. So the divided
sons of men were scattered on four ways in search of land. And
behind them the steadfast tower of stone, and the high citadel,
stood unfinished together in the land of Shinar.
(ll. 1702-1718) Now the tribe of Shem increased and flourished
under heaven. And a certain man of that tribe, of thoughtful
heart and given to virtue, had noble children. Two goodly sons
were born to him, and bred in Babylon, great-hearted princes
named Abraham and Haran. And the Lord of angels was their guide
and friend. Now Haran had a noble son, whose name was Lot. And
Abraham and Lot throve excellently before the Lord as was their
nature from their elders. Wherefore men proclaim their virtues
far and wide upon the earth.