UGenesisi 4
1 U-Adamu wembatha lomkakhe u-Eva, wasezithwala, wabeletha uKhayini. Wathi, “Ngosizo lukaThixo sengibelethe indoda.”
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 Muva wabeletha umfowabo u-Abheli. U-Abheli waba ngumfuyi wemihlambi yezimvu, uKhayini yena wasebenza umhlabathi.
Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 Ngokuya kwesikhathi uKhayini waletha ezinye izithelo zomhlabathi ukuba ngumnikelo kuThixo.
As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.
4 Kodwa u-Abheli waletha izitho ezinonileyo zisuka kwamanye amazibulo omhlambi wakhe. UThixo wathokoza ngo-Abheli kanye lomnikelo wakhe,
Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. The LORD respected Abel and his offering,
5 kodwa kathokozanga ngoKhayini lomnikelo wakhe. Ngakho uKhayini wazonda kakhulu, lobuso bakhe bahloba.
but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
6 UThixo wasesithi kuKhayini, “Uzondeleni na? Kungani ubuso bakho buhlobile?
The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
7 Nxa usenza okulungileyo, kawuyikwamukelwa yini? Kodwa nxa ungenzi okulungileyo, isono sikucathamele emnyango wakho; sinxwanele ukukuthumba, kodwa kumele usehlule.”
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 UKhayini wasesithi kumfowabo u-Abheli, “Ake sihambe siye egangeni.” Kwathi bekhonale egangeni uKhayini wamhlasela umfowabo u-Abheli wambulala.
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 UThixo wasesithi kuKhayini, “Ungaphi umfowenu u-Abheli na?” Waphendula wathi, “Angazi. Ngingumgcini womfowethu na?”
The LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 UThixo wathi, “Usuyenzeni? Lalela! Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisuka emhlabathini.
The LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
11 Manje usuqalekisiwe njalo usuxotshiwe kuwo umhlabathi ovule umlomo wawo ukwamukela igazi lomfowenu lisuka esandleni sakho.
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 Lapho uwusebenza umhlabathi kawusayi kuthela amabele kuwe. Uzakuba luzulane emhlabeni.”
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 UKhayini wathi kuThixo, “Isijeziso sami singaphezu kwamandla ami.
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Lamuhla usungixotsha elizweni, ngakho sengizasithela ngingabi khona kuwe; ngizakuba luzulane olungela kuphumula emhlabeni, kuthi loba ngubani ongifumanayo angibulale.”
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 Kodwa uThixo wathi kuye, “Akunjalo; lowo ozabulala uKhayini uzaphindiselwa ngokuphindwe kasikhombisa.” Ngakho uThixo wasebeka uphawu kuKhayini ukuze kuthi lowo omfumanayo angambulali.
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 Ngakho uKhayini wasesuka emehlweni kaThixo wayahlala elizweni laseNodi, empumalanga kwase-Edeni.
Cain left the LORD’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 UKhayini wembatha lomkakhe, wathatha isisu wazala u-Enoki. Ngalesosikhathi uKhayini wayesakha idolobho alibiza ngendodana yakhe u-Enoki.
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 Ku-Enoki kwazalwa u-Iradi, yena u-Iradi waba nguyise kaMehujayeli, uMehujayeli waba nguyise kaMethushayeli, uMethushayeli waba nguyise kaLameki.
Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 ULameki wathatha abafazi ababili, omunye ethiwa ngu-Ada, omunye ethiwa nguZila.
Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
20 U-Ada wazala uJabhali; owayenguyise walabo abahlala emathenteni befuye izifuyo.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 Ibizo lomfowabo lalinguJubhali; wayenguyise wabo bonke abatshaya umhubhe lechacho.
His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
22 UZila laye waba lendodana, uThubhali-Khayini, owayekhanda zonke inhlobo zezinto ngethusi langensimbi. Udadewabo kaThubhali-Khayini wayenguNahama.
Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 ULameki wathi kubomkakhe, “Ada loZila, ngilalelani; bafazi bakaLameki, zwanini amazwi ami. Sengibulele umuntu ngenxa yokungilimaza, ijaha ngoba lingihlasele.
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 Nxa uKhayini ephindiselwa kasikhombisa ngakho uLameki amatshumi ayisikhombisa lesikhombisa.”
If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 U-Adamu waphinda wembatha lomkakhe njalo, wazala indodana wayithi nguSethi, esithi, “UNkulunkulu usengiphile omunye umntwana endaweni ka-Abheli, njengoba uKhayini wambulala.”
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 USethi laye waba lendodana, wayibiza ngokuthi ngu-Enoshi. Ngalesosikhathi abantu baqala ukukhuleka bebiza ibizo likaThixo.
A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the LORD’s name.
