1Then Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she became pregnant. She bore a son and said, “By the Lord's help I have gotten a son.” So she named him Cain.#4.1: Cain: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “gotten.” 2Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. 3After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. 4#He 11.4 Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? 7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling;#4.7: you would be smiling; or I would have accepted your offering. but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”

8 # Ws 10.3; Mt 23.35; Lk 11.51; 1 Jn 3.12 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out in the fields.”#4.8: Some ancient translations Let's go out in the fields; Hebrew does not have these words. When they were out in the fields, Cain turned on his brother and killed him.

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

He answered, “I don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10 # He 12.24 Then the Lord said, “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge. 11You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him. 12If you try to grow crops, the soil will not produce anything; you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13And Cain said to the Lord, “This punishment is too hard for me to bear. 14You are driving me off the land and away from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15But the Lord answered, “No. If anyone kills you, seven lives will be taken in revenge.” So the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who met him not to kill him. 16And Cain went away from the Lord's presence and lived in a land called “Wandering,” which is east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son. 18Enoch had a son named Irad, who was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael had a son named Methushael, who was the father of Lamech. 19Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21His brother was Jubal, the ancestor of all musicians who play the harp and the flute. 22Zillah gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of tools#4.22: who made all kinds of tools; one ancient translation ancestor of all metalworkers. out of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me:

I have killed a young man because he struck me.

24If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,

Seventy-seven will be taken if anyone kills me.”

Seth and Enosh

25Adam and his wife had another son. She said, “God has given me a son to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.” So she named him Seth.#4.25: Seth: This name sounds like the Hebrew for “has given.” 26Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. It was then that people began using the Lord's holy name in worship.

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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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Good News Translation (US Version)

Genesis 4

Genesis 4