Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Now the man #4:1 Lit knew hishad relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” 2And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3So it came about #4:3 Lit at the end of daysin the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face #4:5 Lit fellwas gloomy. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face #4:6 Lit fallengloomy? 7If you do well, #4:7 Or you will certainly be acceptedwill your face not be #4:7 Lit lifted upcheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8Cain #4:8 Lit said totalked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10Then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times as much.” And the Lord #4:15 Or set a sign forplaced a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.

16Then Cain left the presence of the Lord, and #4:16 Lit dweltsettled in the land of #4:16 I.e., wanderingNod, east of Eden.

17Cain #4:17 Lit knew hishad relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 22As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah,

Listen to my voice,

You wives of Lamech,

Pay attention to my words,

For I have killed a man for wounding me;

And a boy for striking me!

24“If Cain is avenged seven times,

Then Lamech seventy-seven times!”

25Adam #4:25 Lit knew hishad relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him #4:25 Heb ShethSeth, for, she said, “God #4:25 Heb shathhas appointed me another #4:25 Lit seedchild in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26To Seth also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began to call #4:26 Or byupon the name of the Lord.

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Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Adam loved his wife Eve and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the Lord’s help I have had a baby boy.” 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Abel took care of sheep. Cain farmed the land. 3After some time, Cain gathered some things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering. He brought the fattest parts of some animals from his flock. They were the first animals born to their mothers. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering. 5But he wasn’t pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was sad.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why are you looking so sad? 7Do what is right and then you will be accepted. If you don’t do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It desires to control you. But you must rule over it.”

8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain replied. “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. 11So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from this ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you farm the land, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth.”

13Cain said to the Lord, “You are punishing me more than I can take. 14Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from you. I’ll be a restless person who wanders around on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15But the Lord said to him, “No. Anyone who kills you will be paid back seven times.” The Lord put a mark on Cain. Then anyone who found him wouldn’t kill him. 16So Cain went away from the Lord. He lived in the land of Nod. It was east of Eden.

17Cain loved his wife and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city. He named it after his son Enoch. 18Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19Lamech married two women. One was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of people who live in tents and raise livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of everyone who plays stringed instruments and wind instruments. 22Zillah also had a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me!

You wives of Lamech, hear my words!

I have killed a man because he wounded me.

I have killed a young man because he hurt me.

24Anyone who would have killed Cain would have been paid back seven times.

But anyone who hurts me will be paid back 77 times.”

25Adam slept with his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, “God has given me another child. He will take the place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26Seth also had a son and named him Enosh.

Then people began to call on the name of the Lord.

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