The Story of Cain and Abel

1Now the man had marital relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Then she said, “I have created a man just as the Lord did!” 2Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.

3At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord. 4But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? 7Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”

8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10But the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11So now, you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you try to cultivate the

ground it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” 13Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14Look! You are driving me off the land today, and I must hide from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.” 15But the Lord said to him, “All right then, if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.” Then the Lord put a special mark on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down. 16So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The Beginning of Civilization

17Cain had marital relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock. 21The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute. 22Now Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who heated metal and shaped all kinds of tools made of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah! Listen to me!

You wives of Lamech, hear my words!

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for hurting me.

24If Cain is to be avenged seven times as much,

then Lamech seventy-seven times!”

25And Adam had marital relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth, saying, “God has given me another child in place of Abel because Cain killed him.” 26And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time people began to worship the Lord.