< Genesis 4 >

1 And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
And Adam knew Eve his wife: who conceived and brought forth Cain, saying: I have gotten a man through God.
2 Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.
And again she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, and Cain a husbandman.
3 So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord.
4 while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings.
5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was exceedingly angry, and his countenance fell.
6 “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?
And the Lord said to him: Why art thou angry? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
If thou do well, shalt thou not receive? but if ill, shall not sin forthwith be present at the door? but the lust thereof shall be under thee, and thou shalt have dominion over it.
8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and slew him.
9 And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he answered, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?
10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the earth.
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand.
12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
When thou shalt till it, it shall not yield to thee its fruit: a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth.
13 But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve pardon.
14 Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from thy face, and I shall be a vagabond and a fugitive on the earth: every one, therefore, that findeth me, shall kill me.
15 “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not be so: but whosoever shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him.
16 So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
And Cain went out from the face of the Lord, and dwelt as a fugitive on the earth, at the east side of Eden.
17 And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and brought forth Henoch: and he built a city, and called the name thereof by the name of his son Henoch.
18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech.
And Henoch begot Irad, and Irad begot Maviael, and Maviael begot Mathusael, and Mathusael begot Lamech:
19 And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other Sella.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
And Ada brought forth Jabel: who was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of herdsmen.
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of them that play upon the harp and the organs.
22 And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Sella also brought forth Tubalcain, who was a hammerer and artificer in every work of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Noema.
23 Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
And Lamech said to his wives Ada and Sella: Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech: for I have slain a man to the wounding of myself, and a stripling to my own bruising.
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech seventy times sevenfold.
25 And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed, for Abel whom Cain slew.
26 And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.
But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos; this man began to call upon the name of the Lord.

< Genesis 4 >