Genesis, 4

1. The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD."

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,' she said.

2. Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.

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. In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of 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 one of the best firstlings of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

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 on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.

5. But he did not look with favour on Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry and downcast.

6. So the LORD said to Cain: "Why are you so resentful and crestfallen?

6. Yahweh asked Cain, 'Why are you angry and downcast?

7. If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master."

7. If you are doing right, surely you ought to hold your head high! But if you are not doing right, Sin is crouching at the door hungry to get you. You can still master him.'

8. Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the field." When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

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. Then the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He answered, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

9. Yahweh asked Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'I do not know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's guardian?'

10. The LORD then said: "What have you done! Listen: your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil!

10. 'What have you done?' Yahweh asked. 'Listen! Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.

11. Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

11. Now be cursed and banned from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands.

12. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth."

12. When you till the ground it will no longer yield up its strength to you. A restless wanderer you will be on earth.'

13. Cain said to the LORD: "My punishment is too great to bear.

13. Cain then said to Yahweh, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight."

14. Look, today you drive me from the surface of the earth. I must hide from you, and be a restless wanderer on earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!'

15. Not so!" the LORD said to him. "If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold." So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.

15. 'Very well, then,' Yahweh replied, 'whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.' So Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that no one coming across him would kill him.

16. Cain then left the LORD'S presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

16. Cain left Yahweh's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17. Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. Cain also became the founder of a city, which he named after his son Enoch.

17. Cain had intercourse with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. He became the founder of a city and gave the city the name of his son Enoch.

18. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael; Mehujael became the father of Methusael, and Methusael became the father of Lamech.

18. Enoch fathered Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael; Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.

19. Lamech took two wives; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second Zillah.

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, the ancestor of all who dwell in tents and keep cattle.

20. Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the ancestor of tent-dwelling herdsmen.

21. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the pipe.

21. His brother's name was Jubal: he was the ancestor of all who play the harp and the pipe.

22. Zillah, on her part, gave birth to Tubalcain, the ancestor of all who forge instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

22. As for Zillah, she gave birth to Tubal-Cain: he was the ancestor of all who work copper and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.

23. Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my utterance: I have killed a man for wounding me, a boy for bruising me.

23. Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me.

24. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

24. Sevenfold vengeance for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech.

25. Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. "God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel," she said, "because Cain slew him."

25. Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, 'because God has granted me other offspring', she said, 'in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him.'

26. To Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to invoke the LORD by name.

26. A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. This man was the first to invoke the name Yahweh.