4Genesis 4

Cain Murders Abel

1Adam and Eve had a son. Then Eve said, “I'll name him Cain because I got him with the help of the Lord.”Select Genesis 4:1

2Later she had another son and named him Abel. Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land.Select Genesis 4:2

3One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the Lord,Select Genesis 4:3

4and Abel also gave an offering to the Lord. He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the Lord the best parts of it. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,Select Genesis 4:4

5but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.Select Genesis 4:5

6The Lord said to Cain: What's wrong with you? Why do you look so angry?Select Genesis 4:6

7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don't let it!Select Genesis 4:7

8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go for a walk.” And when they were out in a field, Cain attacked and killed him.Select Genesis 4:8

9Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel?” “How should I know?” he answered. “Am I supposed to look after my brother?”Select Genesis 4:9

10Then the Lord said: Why have you done this terrible thing? You killed your own brother, and his blood flowed onto the ground. Now his blood is calling out for me to punish you.Select Genesis 4:10

11And so, I'll put you under a curse. Because you killed Abel and made his blood run out on the ground, you will never be able to farm it again.Select Genesis 4:11

12When you try to farm the land, it won't produce anything for you. From now on, you'll be without a home, and you'll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.Select Genesis 4:12

13“This punishment is too hard!” Cain said.Select Genesis 4:13

14“You're making me leave my home and live far from you. I will have to wander about without a home, and just anyone could kill me.”Select Genesis 4:14

15“No!” the Lord answered. “Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times worse than I am punishing you.” So the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn everyone not to kill him.Select Genesis 4:15

16But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.Select Genesis 4:16

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17Later, Cain and his wife had a son named Enoch. At the time Cain was building a town, and so he named it Enoch after his son.Select Genesis 4:17

18Then Enoch had a son named Irad, who had a son named Mehujael, who had a son named Methushael, who had a son named Lamech.Select Genesis 4:18

19Lamech married Adah, then Zillah.Select Genesis 4:19

21Lamech and Adah had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Their son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats. Jubal was the first to play harps and flutes.Select Genesis 4:21

22Lamech and Zillah had a son named Tubal Cain who made tools out of bronze and iron. They also had a daughter, whose name was Naamah.Select Genesis 4:22

23One day, Lamech said to his two wives, “A young man wounded me, and I killed him.Select Genesis 4:23

24Anyone who tries to get even with me will be punished ten times more than anyone who tries to get even with Cain.”Select Genesis 4:24

25Adam and his wife had another son. They named him Seth, because they said, “God has given us a son to take the place of Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain.”Select Genesis 4:25

26Later, Seth had a son and named him Enosh. About this time people started worshiping the Lord.Select Genesis 4:26