1Adam loved his wife Eve and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the Lord’s help I have had a baby boy.” 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Abel took care of sheep. Cain farmed the land. 3After some time, Cain gathered some things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering. He brought the fattest parts of some animals from his flock. They were the first animals born to their mothers. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering. 5But he wasn’t pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was sad.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why are you looking so sad? 7Do what is right and then you will be accepted. If you don’t do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It desires to control you. But you must rule over it.”

8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain replied. “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. 11So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from this ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you farm the land, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth.”

13Cain said to the Lord, “You are punishing me more than I can take. 14Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from you. I’ll be a restless person who wanders around on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15But the Lord said to him, “No. Anyone who kills you will be paid back seven times.” The Lord put a mark on Cain. Then anyone who found him wouldn’t kill him. 16So Cain went away from the Lord. He lived in the land of Nod. It was east of Eden.

17Cain loved his wife and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city. He named it after his son Enoch. 18Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19Lamech married two women. One was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of people who live in tents and raise livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of everyone who plays stringed instruments and wind instruments. 22Zillah also had a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me!

You wives of Lamech, hear my words!

I have killed a man because he wounded me.

I have killed a young man because he hurt me.

24Anyone who would have killed Cain would have been paid back seven times.

But anyone who hurts me will be paid back 77 times.”

25Adam slept with his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, “God has given me another child. He will take the place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26Seth also had a son and named him Enosh.

Then people began to call on the name of the Lord.

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®

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Genesis 4

1And Man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man with Jehovah. 2And she further bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a husbandman.

3And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to Jehovah. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat. And Jehovah looked upon Abel, and on his offering; 5and upon Cain, and on his offering, he did not look. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6And Jehovah said to Cain, Why art thou angry, and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, will not thy countenance look up with confidence? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door; and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8And Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9And Jehovah said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper? 10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11And now be thou cursed from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. 12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield thee its strength; a wanderer and fugitive shalt thou be on the earth.

13And Cain said to Jehovah, My punishment is too great to be borne. 14Behold, thou hast driven me this day from the face of the ground, and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a wanderer and fugitive on the earth; and it will come to pass, that every one who finds me will slay me. 15And Jehovah said to him, Therefore, whoever slayeth Cain, it shall be revenged sevenfold. And Jehovah set a mark on Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

16And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, toward the east of Eden. 17And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city; and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. 18And to Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methushael begot Lemech.

19And Lemech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah. 20And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and breed cattle. 21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of those who handle the harp and pipe. 22And Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, the forger of every kind of tool of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23And Lemech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lemech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for my wound, and a youth for my bruise. 24If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold; Lemech seventy and seven fold.

25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: ...For God#GodHebrew: Elohim has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, because Cain has slain him. 26And to Seth, to him also was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then people began to call on the name of Jehovah.

First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

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Genesis 4

Genesis 4