Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1Now the man 1had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to 2Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a 3manchild with the help of the Lord.” 2Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And 4Abel was 5a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3So it came about 6in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 47Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And 8the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5but 9for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So 10Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “11Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 712If you do well, 13will not your countenance be lifted up? 14And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, 15but you must master it.” 8Cain 16told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and 17killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “18Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10He said, “What have you done? 19The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11Now 20you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 1221When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; 22you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14Behold, You have 23driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and 24I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and 25whoever finds me will kill me.” 15So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him 26sevenfold.” And the Lord 2728appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

16Then Cain went out from the presence 29of the Lord, and 30settled in the land of 31Nod, east of Eden.

17Cain 32had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad 33became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael 34became the father of Methushael, and Methushael 35became the father of Lamech. 19Lamech took to himself 36two wives: 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 dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 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, Give heed to my speech, 37For I 38have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me;24If Cain is avenged 39sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

2540Adam 41had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him 42Seth, for, she said, “God 43has appointed me another 44offspring in place of Abel, 45for Cain killed him.” 26To Seth, to him also 46a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began 47to call 48upon the name of the Lord.