4 Adam had sex with his wife, Eve. She became pregnant. She gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the Lord 's help, I have given birth to a son.’ [ a ]
2 Some time later, Eve gave birth to Cain's brother. She called him Abel. When they had grown to become men, Abel took care of sheep. Cain worked on the land as a farmer.
3 One day, it was time for the harvest. Cain brought to the Lord some of his crops as an offering. 4 But Abel brought to God some of the first lambs that his sheep had given birth to. He brought pieces of fat from the best of his lambs to offer them to God. Abel and his gift pleased the Lord . [ b ] 5 But God was not pleased with Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry. His face looked sad. [ c ]
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why do you look sad? 7 If you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you do not do the right thing, sin will be very near to you. It will be like a wild animal at your door that is ready to eat you. But you must become its master.’ [ d ]
8 One day Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘We should go out to the fields.’ While they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel. He killed Abel.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel, your brother?’ Cain replied, ‘I do not know where he is. Must I always keep my brother safe?’
10 Then the Lord God said, ‘Why have you done this bad thing? Now your brother's blood is lying there on the ground. That is like his voice which is shouting to me for help. 11 The ground received your brother's blood when you killed him. As a result, the ground no longer accepts you. It has brought a curse on you. 12 When you work hard to dig the ground, no plants will grow in it for your food. You will travel from place to place. You will not have your own home.’ [ e ]
13 Cain said to the Lord , ‘That punishment is too much! It will give me too much pain. 14 Now you are making me leave my home here on the land. I will be far away from where you are. I will be a traveller without a home. If someone sees me, they will kill me.’
15 But the Lord said to Cain, ‘No! If anyone kills Cain, I will punish that person seven times more than I have punished you.’
Then the Lord put a special mark on Cain. This was to tell other people that they must not kill Cain.
16 Cain went away from the Lord . He went to live in the land called Nod, which is east of Eden.
17 Cain had sex with his wife. She became pregnant and she gave birth to Enoch. Cain started to build a city. He called the city Enoch because that was his son's name. 18 Enoch became the father of Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women. One was called Adah. The other was called Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal. Jabal became the father of people who live in tents and they take care of animals.
21 Jabal had a brother called Jubal. Jubal became the father of people who make music with harps and flutes.
22 Zillah gave birth to a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He used bronze and iron to make tools. Tubal-Cain had a sister. Her name was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his two wives,
‘Adah and Zillah, listen to me!
My wives, hear my words!
A man attacked me, so I killed him.
Yes, I killed a young man because he hurt me.
24 If someone kills Cain, God will punish that person seven times more.
But if someone attacks me, I will punish that person 77 times more!’ [ f ]
25 Adam again had sex with his wife, Eve. She gave birth to another son. She called him Seth. Eve said, ‘God has given me another child to take the place of Abel, because Cain killed Abel.’ 26 Later Seth had a son and he called him Enosh.
At that time, people began to use the name of the Lord to worship him.
4 Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Cain. [ a ] Eve said, “With the Lord ’s help, I have made a man!”
2 Eve gave birth again to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a farmer.
3-4 At harvest time, [ b ] Cain brought a gift to the Lord . He brought some of the food that he grew from the ground, but Abel brought some animals from his flock. He chose some of his best sheep and brought the best parts from them. [ c ]
The Lord accepted Abel and his gift. 5 But he did not accept Cain and his offering. Cain was sad because of this, and he became very angry. 6 The Lord asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why does your face look sad? 7 You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t, sin is ready to attack you. That sin will want to control you, but you must control it.” [ d ]
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” [ e ] So they went to the field. Then 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 watch over my brother?”
10-11 Then the Lord said, “What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground. 12 Now when you work the soil, the ground will not help your plants grow. You will not have a home in this land. You will wander from place to place.”
13 Then Cain said to the Lord , “This punishment is more than I can bear! 14 You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me.”
15 Then the Lord said to Cain, “No, if anyone kills you, I will punish that person much, much more.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to show that no one should kill him.
16 Cain went away from the Lord and lived in the land of Nod. [ f ]
17 Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as 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. One wife was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal. Jabal was the father [ g ] of people who live in tents and earn their living by keeping cattle. 21 Jabal was Jubal’s brother. Jubal was the father of people who play the harp and flute. 22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain. Tubal-Cain was the father of people who work with bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was named Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice!
You wives of Lamech, listen to me.
A man hurt me, so I killed him.
I even killed a child for hitting me.
24 The punishment for killing Cain was very bad.
But the punishment for killing me will be many times worse!”
25 Adam again had sexual relations with his wife, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth. [ h ] Eve said, “God has given me another son. Cain killed Abel, but now I have Seth.” 26 Seth also had a son. He named him Enosh. At that time people began to pray to the Lord . [ i ]
4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord .
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord .
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And 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 slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13 And Cain said unto the Lord , My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And 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 bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord .
4 Now the man [ a ] had 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 .” 2 And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now ( A ) Abel was ( B ) a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3 So it came about [ b ] in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4 ( C ) Abel, on his part also brought an offering , from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And ( D ) the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5 but ( E ) for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So ( F ) Cain became very angry and his face [ c ] was gloomy. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “ ( G ) Why are you angry? And why is your face [ d ] gloomy? 7 ( H ) If you do well, [ e ] will your face not be [ f ] cheerful? ( I ) And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, ( J ) but you must master it.” 8 Cain [ g ] talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and ( K ) killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “ ( L ) Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? ( M ) The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11 Now ( N ) you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 ( O ) When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; ( P ) you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord , “My punishment is too great to endure! 14 Behold, You have ( Q ) driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and ( R ) I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and ( S ) whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him ( T ) seven times as much .” And the Lord [ h ] ( U ) placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.
16 Then Cain left the presence ( V ) of the Lord , and [ i ] settled in the land of [ j ] Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain [ k ] had 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. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Lamech took ( W ) two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 22 As 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.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Pay attention to my words,
( X ) For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me!
24 If Cain is avenged ( Y ) seven times,
Then Lamech seventy-seven times!”
25 ( Z ) Adam [ l ] had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him [ m ] Seth, for, she said , “God [ n ] has appointed me another [ o ] child in place of Abel, ( AA ) because Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also ( AB ) a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began ( AC ) to call [ p ] upon the name of the Lord .
4 Adam [ a ] made love to his wife ( A ) Eve, ( B ) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. [ b ] ( C ) She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth [ c ] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. ( D )
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ( E ) 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering ( F ) to the Lord . ( G ) 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions ( H ) from some of the firstborn of his flock. ( I ) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ( J ) 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? ( K ) Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; ( L ) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. ( M ) ”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” [ d ] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ( N )
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” ( O )
“I don’t know, ( P ) ” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ( Q ) 11 Now you are under a curse ( R ) and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. ( S ) You will be a restless wanderer ( T ) on the earth. ( U ) ”
13 Cain said to the Lord , “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; ( V ) I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, ( W ) and whoever finds me will kill me.” ( X )
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so [ e ] ; anyone who kills Cain ( Y ) will suffer vengeance ( Z ) seven times over. ( AA ) ” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord ’s presence ( AB ) and lived in the land of Nod, [ f ] east of Eden. ( AC )
17 Cain made love to his wife, ( AD ) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, ( AE ) and he named it after his son ( AF ) Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech married ( AG ) two women, ( AH ) one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments ( AI ) and pipes. ( AJ ) 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged ( AK ) all kinds of tools out of [ g ] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed ( AL ) a man for wounding me,
a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged ( AM ) seven times, ( AN )
then Lamech seventy-seven times. ( AO ) ”
25 Adam made love to his wife ( AP ) again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, [ h ] ( AQ ) saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” ( AR ) 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. ( AS )
At that time people began to call on [ i ] the name of the Lord . ( AT )
