(7) יהוה said, “I will blot out from the earth humankind whom I created—humans together with beasts, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I regret that I made them.” (8) But Noah found favor with יהוה.

(3) Rabbi Simon said: The Holy One blessed be He found three [precious] finds: Abraham, as it is written: “You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8); David, as it is written: “I found David, My servant” (Psalms 89:21); Israel, as it is written: “Like grapes in the wilderness I found Israel” (Hosea 9:10). The students raised an objection to Rabbi Simon: But is it not written [also]: “But Noah found favor”? He said to them: He [Noah] found [favor], the Holy One blessed be He did not find [him]. But is it not written: “[Israel] found favor in the wilderness”? (Jeremiah 31:2). It is due to the merit of the generation of the Wilderness. (“You found his heart faithful before You.”)

Finding his heart true to You, You made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite—to give it to his descendants. And You kept Your word, for You are righteous.