Genesis 4

The First Family

1 Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. 

2 After that, Eve gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel took care of flocks, and Cain became a farmer.
3 Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God.4 Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,

5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected.
6 The Lord asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you look so unhappy?

7 If you do things well, I will accept you, but if you do not do them well, sin is ready to attack you. Sin wants you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out into the field.” While they were out in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Later, the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
Cain answered, “I don’t know. Is it my job to take care of my brother?”
10 Then the Lord said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.11 And now you will be cursed in your work with the ground, the same ground where your brother’s blood fell and where your hands killed him.

12 You will work the ground, but it will not grow good crops for you anymore, and you will wander around on the earth.”
13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “This punishment is more than I can stand!

14 Today you have forced me to stop working the ground, and now I must hide from you. I must wander around on the earth, and anyone who meets me can kill me.”

15 The Lord said to Cain, “No! If anyone kills you, I will punish that person seven times more.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain warning anyone who met him not to kill him.

Cain’s Family

16 So Cain went away from the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, 17 He had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city, which he named after his son Enoch.

18 Enoch had a son named Irad, Irad had a son named Mehujael, Mehujael had a son named Methushael, and Methushael had a son named Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women, Adah and Zillah.20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the first person to live in tents and raise cattle.21 Jabal’s brother was Jubal, the first person to play the harp and flute.

22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who made tools out of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice! You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say.
I killed a man for wounding me, a young man for hitting me.

24 If Cain’s killer is punished seven times, then Lamech’s killer will be punished seventy-seven times.”

Adam and Eve Have a New Son

25 Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth 26 Seth also had a son, and they named him Enosh. At that time people began to pray to the Lord.

Genesis 4

The Story of Cain and Abel

1 Nowt the man had marital relations witht his wife Eve, and she became pregnantt and gave birth to Cain. Then she said, “I have createdt a man just as the Lord did!”ts

2 Then she gave birtht to his brother Abel.s Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.t
3 At the designated timet Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offeringt to the Lord.4 But Abel broughtt some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattestts of them. And the Lord was pleased witht Abel and his offering,

5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased.s So Cain became very angry,t and his expression was downcast.t
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast?

7 Is it not truet that if you do what is right, you will be fine?t But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouchingt at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”t

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”s While they were in the field, Cain attackedt his brothers Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”s And he replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?”ts10 But the Lord said, “What have you done?s The voicet of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!11 So now, you are banishedt from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.12 When you try to cultivatet the ground it will no longer yieldt its bestt for you. You will be a homeless wanderert on the earth.”13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishmentt is too great to endure!t14 Look! You are driving me off the landt today, and I must hide from your presence.s I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.”15 But the Lord said to him, “All right then,t if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.”s Then the Lord put a special markt on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down.s

16 So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod,s east of Eden.

The Beginning of Civilization

17 Cain had marital relationst with his wife, and she became pregnantt and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city aftert his son Enoch.

18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the fathert of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the firstt of those who live in tents and keept livestock.21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.

22 Now Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who heated metal and shapedt all kinds of tools made of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah! Listen to me!
You wives of Lamech, hear my words!
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young mant for hurting me.

24 If Cain is to be avenged seven times as much,
then Lamech seventy-seven times!”s
25 And Adam had marital relationst with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth, saying, “God has givens me another childt in place of Abel because Cain killed him.”

26 And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time peoplet began to worshipt the Lord.