God, horrified by man's wickedness, decided to flood the earth. He told Noah, a "righteous man", to build a wooden ark and, when the floods came, to take his family and two of every living creature on board. The rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights, and every living thing on dry land perished. After 40 days, Noah sent out a dove but it could find nowhere to set its feet so it flew back. A week later, Noah sent out the dove again and when it returned it carried an olive leaf. A week later, he sent the dove out again and this time it didn't return. Noah saw that the earth had dried, and released his family and the birds and animals on to the land. God promised never to destroy the earth again.
