1Now Adam#4:1a Or the man; also in 4:25. had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced#4:1b Or I have acquired. Cain sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “produce” or “acquire.” a man!” 2Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

6“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

8One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.”#4:8 As in Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek and Syriac versions, and Latin Vulgate; Masoretic Text lacks “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

9Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

10But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 12No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment#4:13 Or My sin. is too great for me to bear! 14You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

15The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. 16So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod,#4:16 Nod means “wandering.” east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son. 18Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of#4:18 Or the ancestor of, and so throughout the verse. Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

19Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. 22Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah. 23One day Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

listen to me, you wives of Lamech.

I have killed a man who attacked me,

a young man who wounded me.

24If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times,

then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!”

The Birth of Seth

25Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth,#4:25 Seth probably means “granted”; the name may also mean “appointed.” for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.

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Genesis 4

1And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew Khav’vah [Eve] (to breath, to live) his wife; and she conceived, and bore Kayin [something produced, spear], and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) (literally “I have given birth to the man who is in fact Yehovah – Messiah).

2And she again bore his brother Hevel (herdsman). And Hevel (herdsman) was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin [something produced, spear] was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Kayin [something produced, spear] brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).

4And Hevel (herdsman), he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had respect unto Hevel (herdsman) and to his offering:

5But unto Kayin [something produced, spear] and to his offering he had not respect. And Kayin [something produced, spear] was very exceedingly angry, and his Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fell.

6And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Why are youi exceedingly angry? and why is youri Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fallen?

7If youi do well, shall youi not be accepted? and if youi do not well, sin crouches at the door. And unto youi [shall be] his desire, and youi shall rule over him.

8And Kayin [something produced, spear] talked with Hevel (herdsman) his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Kayin [something produced, spear] rose up against Hevel (herdsman) his brother, and killed him.

9And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Where [is] Hevel (herdsman) youri brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?

10And he said, What have youi done? the voice of youri brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground.

11And now [are] youi cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive youri brother’s blood from youri hand;

12When youi till the ground, it shall not from this time forth (from now on) yield unto youi her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall youi be in the earth.

13And Kayin [something produced, spear] said unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), My punishment [is] greater than I can bore.

14Behold, youi hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from youri face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that finds me shall slay me.

15And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto him, Therefore whosoever slays Kayin [something produced, spear], vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) set a mark upon Kayin [something produced, spear], lest any finding him should kill him.

16And Kayin [something produced, spear] went out from the presence of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), and dwelt in the land of Nod (vagabond; fugitive), on the east of ‘Eden (bliss).

17And Kayin [something produced, spear] knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)): and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)).

18And unto Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)) was born ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon): and ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Mechuya’el (who proclaims God): and Mechuya’el (who proclaims God) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]): and Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Lemekh (poor; made low).

19And Lemekh (poor; made low) took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow).

20And ‘Adah bore Yaval (bring, carry, lead, conduct): he was the father of such as dwell in tents [artificial structures], and [of such as have] cattle [vocation (what God calls, gifts a person to do)].

21And his brother’s name [was] Yuv’al (stream): he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ [artistry].

22And Zillah, she also bore Tuval-Kayin (the inhabited world [and its economy] and production, a spear [weapons]), an instructor of every artisan in brass and iron [manufacturing – with military applications]: and the sister of Tuval-Kayin [was] Na’amah [Loveliness] (pleasant).

23And Lemekh (poor; made low) said unto his wives, ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow), Hear my voice; youf wives of Lemekh (poor; made low), hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

24If Kayin [something produced, spear] shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemekh (poor; made low) seventy and sevenfold.

25And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Shet (Appointed; with connotations of Gluteus Maximus and tumult): For God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered], [said she], has appointed me another seed instead of Hevel (herdsman), whom Kayin [something produced, spear] killed.

26And to Shet (Appointed), to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh (mortal, frail, or miserable; mortal man; sick; despaired of; forgetful): then began men to curse the name (lit. Profane (treat as common; defile) the name) of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).

For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.

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Genesis 4

Genesis 4