Genesis 4Genesis4

JPS Tanakh 1917Berean Standard Bible

1. Cain and Abel

   (Hebrews 11:4)

2. 1JPSAnd the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, and said: 'I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.'BSBBSB: And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
3. 2JPSAnd again she bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.BSBBSB: Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.
4. 3JPSAnd in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.BSBBSB: So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
5. 4JPSAnd Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering;BSBBSB: while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
6. 5JPSbut unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.BSBBSB: but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
7. 6JPSAnd the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?BSBBSB: “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?
8. 7JPSIf thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee is its desire, but thou mayest rule over it.'BSBBSB: If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
9. 8JPSAnd Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.BSBBSB: Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
10. 9JPSAnd the LORD said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?'BSBBSB: And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
11. 10JPSAnd He said: 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.BSBBSB: “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
12. 11JPSAnd now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.BSBBSB: Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
13. 12JPSWhen thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.'BSBBSB: When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
14. 13JPSAnd Cain said unto the LORD: 'My punishment is greater than I can bear.BSBBSB: But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
15. 14JPSBehold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.'BSBBSB: Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
16. 15JPSAnd the LORD said unto him: 'Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.BSBBSB: “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
17. 16JPSAnd Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.BSBBSB: So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

18. The Descendants of Cain

19. 17JPSAnd Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch; and he builded a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch.BSBBSB: And Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch.
20. 18JPSAnd unto Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methushael begot Lamech.BSBBSB: Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methusael, and Methusael was the father of Lamech.
21. 19JPSAnd Lamech took unto him two wives; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.BSBBSB: And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
22. 20JPSAnd Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.BSBBSB: Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
23. 21JPSAnd his brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.BSBBSB: And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
24. 22JPSAnd Zillah, she also bore Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.BSBBSB: And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
25. 23JPSAnd Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech; for I have slain a man for wounding me, and a young man for bruising me;BSBBSB: Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
26. 24JPSIf Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.BSBBSB: If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

27. Seth and Enosh

28. 25JPSAnd Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: 'for God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.'BSBBSB: And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
29. 26JPSAnd to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh; then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.BSBBSB: And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.