4
1 The
man knew
Eve his wife. She
conceived,
and gave birth
to Cain, and said,
“I have gotten
a man with
the LORD’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, Cain
brought an
offering to the
LORD from the
fruit of
the ground.
4 Abel
also brought some
of the firstborn
of his flock
and of its fat.
The LORD 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 The
LORD said to Cain,
“Why are you
angry? Why has
the expression of
your face fallen?
7 If you
do well, won’t it
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.” While they
were in the
field, Cain rose
up against Abel,
his brother, and
killed him.
9 The
LORD said to Cain,
“Where is Abel,
your brother?”
He said, “I don’t
know. Am I
my brother’s keeper?”
10 The
LORD 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
will be a
fugitive and a
wanderer in
the earth.”
13 Cain said
to the LORD, “My
punishment is
greater than I can
bear.
14 Behold,
you have driven
me out today
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. Whoever
finds me will
kill me.”
15 The
LORD said to
him, “Therefore
whoever slays Cain,
vengeance will be
taken on him
sevenfold.” The
LORD appointed
a sign for Cain,
so that anyone
finding him would
not strike him.
16 Cain
left the LORD’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
named the city
after the name
of his son,
Enoch.
18 Irad
was born to
Enoch. 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 first one was
Adah, and the
name of the
second one was
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
bronze 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, saying, “for God
has given me
another child
instead of Abel,
for Cain killed
him.”
26 A
son was also
born to Seth,
and he named
him Enosh. At
that time men
began to call
on the LORD’s
name.