Genesis 4

Cain Murders Abel

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man from the Lord.2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.6 So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.9 Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brothers keeper?10 And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brothers blood cries out to Me from the ground.11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brothers blood from your hand.12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.13 And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear!14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.15 And the Lord said to him, Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

The Family of Cain

16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his sonEnoch.18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.21 His brothers name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.23 Then Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me.24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.

A New Son

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of 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.