1 Cain and Abel Now the man 4:1Or had relations with knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and 4:1Or bore Cain, cf. 3:16 gave birth to 4:1Lit gotten one Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a 4:1Or man, Yahweh man withthe help ofYahweh.”
2 And again, she 4:2 Or bore his brother Abel, cf. 3:16 gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground.
3 So it happened 4:3Lit at the end of days in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh of the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel, on his part, also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And Yahweh had regard for Abel and for his offering;
5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, 4:7Or surely you will be accepted. will notyour countenancebe lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is lying at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Then Cain 4:8Lit said; ancient versions add let us go into the field spoke to Abel his brother; and it happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground.
11 And now, cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”
13 And Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is too great to bear!
14 Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and it will be that whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 So Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And Yahweh 4:15 Or set a mark on appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one who found him would strike him.
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of Yahweh and 4:16Lit dwelt settled in the land of 4:16Wandering Nod, east of Eden.
17 Then Cain 4:17 Or had relations knew his wife, and she conceived and 4:17 Or bore Enoch, cf. 3:16 gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.
18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad 4:18Lit begot was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael 4:18Lit begot was the father of Methushael, and Methushael 4:18Lit begot was the father of Lamech.
19 And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.
20 And Adah 4:20 Or bore Jabal, cf. 3:16 gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents andhavelivestock.
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
22 As for Zillah, she also 4:22Or bore Tubal-cain, cf. 3:16 gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 And Lamech said to his wives,“Adah and Zillah,Hear my voice,You wives of Lamech,Give ear to my word,For I 4:23Or kill have killed a man for 4:23Or bruising, cf. Ex 21:25 striking me;And a boy for wounding me;
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold,Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
25 Then Adam 4:25Or had relations knew his wife again; and she 4:25Or bore gave birth to a son and named him 4:25Heb Sheth Seth, forshe said, “God 4:25Heb shath has set for me another 4:25Or offspring seed in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26 And to Seth, to him also, a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Thenmenbegan to call 4:26Or by upon the name of Yahweh.