Genesis 4
1 Adam slept with his wife Eve and she became pregnant. She gave birth to Cain, and said, “With the Lord's help I have made a man.”
Truly, Adam knew his wife Eve, who conceived and gave birth to Cain, saying, “I have obtained a man through God.”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a crop farmer.
And again she gave birth to his brother Abel. But Abel was a pastor of sheep, and Cain was a farmer.
3 Sometime later Cain brought some of the produce he'd grown as an offering to the Lord.
Then it happened, after many days, that Cain offered gifts to the Lord, from the fruits of the earth.
4 Abel also brought an offering: the firstborn lambs of his flock, selecting the very best parts to offer. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
Abel likewise offered from the firstborn of his flock, and from their fat. And the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his gifts.
5 but he wasn't pleased with Cain and his offering, which made Cain very angry and he frowned in annoyance.
Yet in truth, he did not look with favor on Cain and his gifts. And Cain was vehemently angry, and his countenance fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? Why do you look so annoyed?
And the Lord said to him: “Why are you angry? And why is your face fallen?
7 If you were doing what's right, then you'd be looking happy. But if you don't do what's right, then sin will be like animal crouching outside your home, ready to pounce on you. It wants to have you, but you must be the one in control.”
If you behave well, will you not receive? But if you behave badly, will not sin at once be present at the door? And so its desire will be within you, and you will be dominated by it.”
8 Later, when Cain was talking with his brother Abel they went out into the fields where Cain attacked his brother and killed him.
And Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go outside.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and he put him to death.
9 “Where is your brother Abel?” the Lord asked Cain. “How should I know?” he replied. “Am I supposed to be my brother's care-giver?”
And the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he responded: “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 “What have you done?” the Lord asked. “Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.
And he said to him: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the land.
11 Consequently you are more cursed than the ground because you soaked it with your brother's blood.
Now, therefore, you will be cursed upon the land, which opened its mouth and received the blood of your brother at your hand.
12 When you cultivate the ground, it won't produce crops for you. You'll be always on the run, wandering all over the earth.”
When you work it, it will not give you its fruit; a vagrant and a fugitive shall you be upon the land.”
13 “My punishment is more than I can take,” Cain replied.
And Cain said to the Lord: “My iniquity is too great to deserve kindness.
14 “Look! You're driving me away right now—cursing the ground and banishing me from your presence. I'm going to have to hide and always be on the run, left to wander all over the earth. Anyone who finds me is going to kill me!”
Behold, you have cast me out this day before the face of the earth, and from your face I will be hidden; and I will be a vagrant and a fugitive on the earth. Therefore, anyone who finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord replied, “No, Cain. Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times over.” The Lord placed a mark on Cain so that no one who came across him would kill him.
And the Lord said to him: “By no means will it be so; rather, whoever would kill Cain, will be punished sevenfold.” And the Lord placed a seal upon Cain, so that anyone who found him would not put him to death.
16 So Cain left the Lord's presence and went to live in a land called Nod, east of Eden.
And so Cain, departing from the face of the Lord, lived as a fugitive on the earth, toward the eastern region of Eden.
17 Cain slept with his wife and she became pregnant. She had a son named Enoch. At that time Cain was building a town, so he named it after his son Enoch.
Then Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. And he built a city, and he called its name by the name of his son, Enoch.
18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael, Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
Thereafter, Enoch conceived Irad, and Irad conceived Mahujael, and Mahujael conceived Mathusael, and Mathusael conceived Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was named Zillah.
Lamech took two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.
20 Adah had a son named Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.
And Adah conceived Jabel, who was the father of those who live in tents and are shepherds.
21 He had a brother named Jubal; he was the father of all those who play stringed and wind instruments.
And the name of his brother was Jubal; he was the father of those who sing to the harp and the organ.
22 Zillah also had a son. He was named Tubal-cain and he was a blacksmith, making different kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain's sister was named Naamah.
Zillah also conceived Tubalcain, who was a hammerer and artisan in every work of brass and iron. In fact, the sister of Tubalcain was Noema.
23 At one time Lamech told his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me. You wives of Lamech, pay attention to what I have to say. I killed a man because he wounded me; I killed a young man because he injured me.
And Lamech said to his wives Adah and Zillah: “Listen to my voice, you wives of Lamech, pay attention to my speech. For I have killed a man to my own harm, and an adolescent to my own bruising.
24 If the sentence for killing Cain was to be punished seven times over, then if someone kills me, Lamech, the punishment should be seventy-seven times.”
Sevenfold vengeance will be given for Cain, but for Lamech, seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam slept with his wife again, and she had a son and named him Seth, explaining that, “God has given me another child to replace Abel, the one Cain killed.”
Adam also knew his wife again, and she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Seth, saying, “God has given me another offspring, in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.”
26 Later Seth had a son named Enosh, because at that time people began to worship the Lord by name.
But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos. This one began to invoke the name of the Lord.
