17 The flood continued for forty days, and the water became deep enough for the boat to float.
18 The water became deeper, and the boat drifted on the surface.
19 It became so deep that it covered the highest mountains;
20 it went on rising until it was about seven metres above the tops of the mountains.
21 Every living being on the earth died — every bird, every animal, and every person.
22 Everything on earth that breathed died.
23 The Lord destroyed all living beings on the earth — human beings, animals, and birds. The only ones left were Noah and those who were with him in the boat.