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Genesis 4
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Chapter 4
Cain and Abel
1
The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. ‘I have acquired a man with the help of Yahweh[*a]’ she said.
2
She gave birth to a second child, Abel, the brother of Cain. Now Abel became a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil.
3
Time passed and Cain brought some of the produce of the soil as an offering for Yahweh,
4
while Abel for his part brought the first-born of his flock and some of their fat as well. Yahweh looked with favour on Abel and his offering.
5
But he did not look with favour on Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry and downcast.
6
Yahweh asked Cain, ‘Why are you angry and downcast?
7
If you are well disposed, ought you not to lift up your head? But if you are ill disposed, is not sin at the door like a crouching beast hungering for you, which you must master?’
8
Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out’; and while they were in the open country, Cain set on his brother Abel and killed him.
9
Yahweh asked Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I do not know’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s guardian?’
10
‘What have you done?’ Yahweh asked. ‘Listen to the sound of your brother’s blood, crying out to me from the ground.
11
Now be accursed and driven from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hands.
12
When you till the ground it shall no longer yield you any of its produce. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth.’
13
Then Cain said to Yahweh, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14
See! Today you drive me from this ground. I must hide from you, and be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!’
15
‘Very well, then,’ Yahweh replied ‘if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for him.’ So Yahweh put a mark on Cain, to prevent whoever might come across him from striking him down.
16
Cain left the presence of Yahweh and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The descendants of Cain
17
Cain had intercourse with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. He became builder of a town, and he gave the town the name of his son Enoch.
18
Enoch had a son, Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael; Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19
Lamech married two women: the name of the first was Adah and the name of the second was Zillah.
20
Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the ancestor of the tent-dwellers and owners of livestock.
21
His brother’s name was Jubal: he was the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the flute.
22
As for Zillah, she gave birth to Tubal-cain: he was the ancestor of all metalworkers, in bronze or iron. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah.
23
Lamech said to his wives: ‘Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Lamech’s wives, listen to what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me.
24
Sevenfold vengeance is taken for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech.’
Seth and his descendants
25
Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, ‘because God has granted[*b] me other offspring’ she said ‘in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him’.
26
A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. This man was the first to invoke the name of Yahweh.[*c]
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