Genesis 4

Chapter 4

Cain and Abel

1 Now Adamt had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have producedt a man!”

2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD.4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift,

5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?

7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.”t And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

9 Afterward the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.

12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the LORD, “My punishmentt is too great for me to bear!

14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The LORD replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.

16 So Cain left the LORD’s presence and settled in the land of Nod,t east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17 Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son.

18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father oft Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah.20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents.21 His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute.22 Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah.

23 One day Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
listen to me, you wives of Lamech.
I have killed a man who attacked me,
a young man who wounded me.24 If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times,
then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!”

The Birth of Seth

25 Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth,t for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.”

26 When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the LORD by name.

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.