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 the fat of it. 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 dwelt in the land of Nod, on
the 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 cattle. 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, she said, “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.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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