Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1The man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have brought forth a man with the help of Yahweh.” 2She gave birth again, to his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering to Yahweh. 4Abel, for his part, brought some of the firstborn of his flock, from their fat portions. Yahweh looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but he had no regard for Cain and his offering. Cain burned with anger, and his face fell. 6Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; it desires you, but you must master it.” 8Cain 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.* 9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed, banished from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14Look — you are driving me today from the face of the ground, and I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15Yahweh said to him, “Not so — if anyone kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him. 16Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The Line of Cain

17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and the flute. 22Zillah, too, gave birth — to Tubal-cain, who forged all kinds of tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to what I say. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Seth Is Born

25Adam knew his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of Yahweh.