Genesis 4

Cain and Abel

1 Adam slept with Eve, and she got pregnant. She gave birth to Cain and said, ‘With God’s help, I have brought a man into the world.’

2 Later, she had another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, and Cain worked the fields.

3 One day, Cain brought some crops as an offering to the Lord.

4 But Abel brought the best cuts of meat from his flock. God accepted Abel and his offering,

5 but He did not accept Cain’s. Cain got mad and started sulking.

6 God said to Cain, ‘Why you mad, Why are you looking all down?’

7 ‘If you do right, will you not be accepted, But if you do not, sin’s waiting to pounce on you. You must handle it before it handles you.’

8 Cain said to Abel, ‘Listen, let us hit the field.’ But while they were out there, Cain attacked Abel and killed him.

9 God said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ Cain said, ‘Man, how should I know, I am not his babysitter.’

10 God said, ‘What did you do, Your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground!’

11 ‘Now you are cursed. The ground will not work for you anymore, and you will be a restless wanderer.’

12 Cain said, ‘This punishment is too much! You are kicking me out, and if anyone finds me, they will kill me!’

13 God said, ‘Nah, anyone who kills you will suffer vengeance seven times over.’ Then God put a mark on Cain to keep people off him.

14 Cain left God’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

15 Cain got with his wife, and she gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named it after his son.

16 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael, who became the father of Methushael, who became the father of Lamech.

17 Lamech married two women: Adah and Zillah.

18 Adah had a son named Jabal, the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

19 His brother Jubal was the father of musicians who play the lyre and pipe.

20 Zillah had a son named Tubal-Cain, who forged tools out of bronze and iron. She also had a daughter named Naamah.

21 Lamech said to his wives, ‘Listen up! I killed a man for hurting me, a young man for injuring me.’

22 ‘If Cain is avenged seven times, Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times.’

23 Adam and Eve had another son, Seth. Eve said, ‘God gave me another child to replace Abel, who Cain killed.’

24 Seth had a son named Enosh. That is when people started calling on the name of the Lord.