Genesis 4

Then Adam had {marital} relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to {a son they named} Cain, {which means “obtained.”} {They named him that} because she said, “God has enabled me to obtain a son!”

Then Eve also gave birth to Cain’s brother {whom they named} Abel. {When they grew up,} Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a {crop} farmer. \*

As time went by, one day Cain gave some of the crops {that he had grown} in his fields to God as a gift {to honor him}.

Abel also gave {a gift} {to God}, {but what he gave was} some of the firstborn animals from his flock{s}, including some of their best parts. God was pleased with Abel and his gift.

However, he was not pleased with Cain or his gift. So Cain became extremely angry, and he frowned. \*

Then God asked him, “Why are you so angry? And why are you frowning?

If you do {what is} right, I will accept {you} {and your offering}. But if you do not do {what is} right, then sin {is like a fierce animal that} is waiting outside your door {to attack you}. It wants {to control} you, but you must control it {so that you do not sin}.” \*

But {after that,} Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field {to work} {together}.” So {they went out} to the field, and while they were there, Cain attacked his brother and murdered him.

Later God asked Cain, “Where {is} your brother Abel?” Cain responded, “I do not know {where he is}. Is it my job to take care of my brother?” \*

Then God said {to him}, “You have done a terrible thing! I see your brother’s blood on the ground, and I must punish you {for killing him}!

So from now on I am cursing you {so that you will not be able to grow food} from the ground, which is where your brother’s blood spilled out when you murdered him.

Whenever you {try to} farm the ground, it will no longer produce good crops for you. {From now on,} you will be an outcast who wanders around on the earth {without a permanent home}.” \*

Cain replied to God, “You are punishing me more {severely} than I can endure.

Look, you have now banished me from {farming} the ground, and I will be far away from you. I will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, so that whoever sees me will kill me!”

God replied to him, “So then, {I will warn everyone that} I will take vengeance on whoever kills you {and punish him} seven times more {severely} {than I am punishing you}!” Then he put a mark on Cain to warn everyone who met him not to kill him. \*

Then Cain left God’s presence and lived in the region of Nod, {which means “wandering,”} {which was} east of {the region of} Eden.

Then Cain had {marital} relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to {a son they named} Enoch. {At that time} Cain was building a city, so he named the city after his son Enoch. \*

When Enoch {grew up,} he had {a son named} Irad. Then Irad had {a son named} Mehujael. Then Mehujael had {a son named} Methushael. Then Methushael had {a son named} Lamech.

When Lamech {grew up,} he married two wives. His first wife’s name was Adah, and his other wife’s name was Zillah. \*

Adah gave birth to {a son named} Jabal. He {grew up and} became the first of {all} those who live {in} portable shelters and raise livestock {for a living}.

His brother’s name was Jubal. He became the first of all {those} who play harps and flutes.

{Lamech’s other wife} Zillah also gave birth to {a son named} Tubal Cain. He {was the first of all those who} make all {kinds} of tools {and other things} out of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain had a sister {whose name was} Naamah. \*

{One day,} Lamech bragged to his {two} wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to what I have to say. My wives, listen to this: I killed a young man for wounding me! In fact, {I killed} that man {just} because he bruised me. 24 God will avenge Cain seven times, but {I,} Lamech {avenge myself} 77 times!” \*

Then Adam had {marital} relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son, and she named him Seth, {which means “given.”} {She named him that} because {when he was born,} {she had said}, “God has given me another child to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.”

Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. During that time people began to worship {God} by using His name God. \*