Cain and Abel
(Hebrews 11:4)

1And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain† and said, “I have acquired a man by YHWH.”

2And she continued to give birth to his brother Abel.

And Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a worker of the ground. 3And it came to pass at the end of days that Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground an offering to YHWH. 4And Abel, he also brought from the firstborn of his flock, even from their fat.

And YHWH looked with favor unto Abel and unto his offering. 5And to Cain and to his offering He did not look with favor, and it burned to Cain exceedingly, and his face fell.

6And YHWH said to Cain, “Why has it burned to you, and why has your face fallen? 7Is it not that if you do well, there is elevation? But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you,† and you must rule over it.”

8And Cain said to Abel his brother, “Let us go into the field.” † And it came to pass in their being in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

9And YHWH said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”

And He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10And He said, “What have you done? The voice of the bloods of your brother is crying out to Me from the ground! 11And now, cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive the bloods of your brother from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it shall not continue to give its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13And Cain said to YHWH, “Greater is my punishment† than I can bear! 14Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground, and from Your face I shall be hidden, and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. And it will come to pass that anyone finding me will kill me!”

15And YHWH said to him, “Not so;† anyone who kills Cain, sevenfold shall vengeance be taken on him.” And YHWH set on Cain a mark, lest anyone finding him should slay him.

16And Cain went out from before the face of YHWH and dwelt in the land of Nod,† east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. And he began building a city, and he called the name of the city according to the name of his son, Enoch.

18And to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad begat Mehujael, and Mehujael begat Methushael, and Methushael begat Lamech. 19And Lamech took for himself two wives: The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.

20And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those dwelling in tents and having livestock. 21And the name of his brother was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.

22And Zillah, she also bore Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23And Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech:

For a man I have killed for my wound,

and a young man for my bruise.

24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,

then Lamech seventy and sevenfold!†”

Seth and Enosh

25And Adam again knew his wife, and she gave birth to a son and called his name Seth,† “For God has appointed for me another seed in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.”

26And to Seth, to him also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh.

At that time they began to call on† the name of YHWH.

Footnotes:

1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for acquired or brought forth.
7 Or it desires to control you
8 SP, LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate; Hebrew Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel.
13 Or guilt or sin
15 LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; Hebrew “Very well!” or “Therefore:”
16 Nod means wandering.
24 Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven or seventy-sevenfold; see also Matthew 18:22.
25 Seth probably means granted or appointed.
26 Or to proclaim; some translators to invoke or to call themselves by or to profane