Genesis 4
1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?”
He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
16 Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.18 To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.19 Lamech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice.
You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech,
for I have slain a man for wounding me,
a young man for bruising me.
24 If Cain will be avenged seven times,
truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, “for God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26 There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh’s 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.