Genesis 4-6
Complete Jewish Bible
4 The man had sexual relations with Havah his wife; she conceived, gave birth to Kayin [acquisition] and said, “I have acquired a man from Adonai.” 2 In addition she gave birth to his brother Hevel. Hevel kept sheep, while Kayin worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; 4 and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering 5 but did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and his face fell. 6 Adonai said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why so downcast? 7 If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule over it.” 8 Kayin had words with Hevel his brother; then one time, when they were in the field, Kayin turned on Hevel his brother and killed him.
9 Adonai said to Kayin, “Where is Hevel your brother?” And he replied, “I don’t know; am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hands. 12 When you farm the ground it will no longer yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive, wandering the earth.” 13 Kayin said to Adonai, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 You are banning me today from the land and from your presence. I will be a fugitive wandering the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Adonai answered him, “Therefore, whoever kills Kayin will receive vengeance sevenfold,” and Adonai put a sign on Kayin, so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Kayin left the presence of Adonai and lived in the land of Nod [wandering], east of ‘Eden.
17 Kayin had sexual relations with his wife; she conceived and gave birth to Hanokh. Kayin built a city and named the city after his son Hanokh. 18 To Hanokh was born ‘Irad. ‘Irad fathered Mechuya’el, Mechuya’el fathered Metusha’el, and Metusha’el fathered Lemekh.
(S: v) 19 Lemekh took himself two wives; the name of the one was ‘Adah, while the name of the other was Tzilah. 20 ‘Adah gave birth to Yaval; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have cattle. 21 His brother’s name was Yuval; and he was the ancestor of all who play lyre and flute. 22 Tzilah gave birth to Tuval-Kayin, who forged all kinds of tools from brass and iron; the sister of Tuval-Kayin was Na‘amah. 23 Lemekh said to his wives,
“‘Adah and Tzilah, listen to me;
wives of Lemekh, hear what I say:
I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man who injured me.
24 If Kayin will be avenged sevenfold,
then Lemekh seventy-sevenfold!”
25 Adam again had sexual relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Shet [granted], “For God has granted me another seed in place of Hevel, since Kayin killed him.” 26 To Shet too was born a son, whom he called Enosh. That is when people began to call on the name of Adonai.
5 (vi) Here is the genealogy of Adam. On the day that God created man he made him in the likeness of God; 2 he created them male and female; he blessed them and called them Adam [humankind, man] on the day they were created. 3 After Adam lived 130 years he fathered a son like himself and named him Shet. 4 After Shet was born, Adam lived another 800 years and had both sons and daughters. 5 In all, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
6 Shet lived 105 years and fathered Enosh. 7 After Enosh was born, Shet lived another 807 years and had sons and daughters. 8 In all, Shet lived 912 years; then he died.
9 Enosh lived ninety years and fathered Kenan. 10 After Kenan was born, Enosh lived another 815 years and had sons and daughters. 11 In all, Enosh lived 905 years; then he died.
12 Kenan lived seventy years and fathered Mahalal’el. 13 After Mahalal’el was born, Kenan lived another 840 years and had sons and daughters. 14 In all, Kenan lived 910 years; then he died.
15 Mahalal’el lived sixty-five years and fathered Yered. 16 After Yered was born, Mahalal’el lived another 830 years and had sons and daughters. 17 In all, Mahalal’el lived 895 years; then he died.
18 Yered lived 162 years and fathered Hanokh. 19 After Hanokh was born, Yered lived 800 years and had sons and daughters. 20 In all, Yered lived 962 years; then he died.
21 Hanokh lived sixty-five years and fathered Metushelach. 22 After Metushelach was born, Hanokh walked with God 300 years and had sons and daughters. 23 In all, Hanokh lived 365 years. 24 Hanokh walked with God, and then he wasn’t there, because God took him.
(vii) 25 Metushelach lived 187 years and fathered Lemekh. 26 After Lemekh was born, Metushelach lived 782 years and had sons and daughters. 27 In all, Metushelach lived 969 years; then he died.
28 Lemekh lived 182 years and fathered a son, 29 whom he called Noach [restful]; for he said, “This one will comfort us in our labor, in the hard work we do with our hands [to get what comes] from the ground that Adonai cursed.” 30 After Noach was born, Lemekh lived 595 years and had sons and daughters. 31 In all, Lemekh lived 777 years; then he died.
32 Noach was 500 years old; and Noach fathered Shem, Ham and Yefet.
6 In time, when men began to multiply on earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Adonai said, “My Spirit will not live in human beings forever, for they too are flesh; therefore their life span is to be 120 years.” 4 The N’filim were on the earth in those days, and also afterwards, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; these were the ancient heroes, men of renown.
(Maftir) 5 Adonai saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 Adonai regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 Adonai said, “I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them.” 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of Adonai.
Haftarah B’resheet: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 42:5–43:10 (A); 42:5–21 (S)
B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah B’resheet: Mattityahu (Matthew) 1:1–17; 19:3–9; Mark 10:1–12; Luke 3:23–38; Yochanan (John) 1:1–18; 1 Corinthians 6:15–20; 15:35–58; Romans 5:12–21; Ephesians 5:21–32; Colossians 1:14–17; 1 Timothy 2:11–15; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 1:1–3; 3:7–4:11; 11:1–7; 2 Kefa (2 Peter) 3:3–14; Revelation 21:1–5; 22:1–5
Parashah 2: Noach (Noah) 6:9–11:32
9 Here is the history of Noach. In his generation, Noach was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noach walked with God. 10 Noach fathered three sons, Shem, Ham and Yefet. 11 The earth was corrupt before God, the earth was filled with violence. 12 God saw the earth, and, yes, it was corrupt; for all living beings had corrupted their ways on the earth.
13 God said to Noach, “The end of all living beings has come before me, for because of them the earth is filled with violence. I will destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gofer-wood; you are to make the ark with rooms and cover it with pitch both outside and inside. 15 Here is how you are to build it: the length of the ark is to be 450 feet, its width seventy-five feet and its height forty-five feet. 16 You are to make an opening for daylight in the ark eighteen inches below its roof. Put a door in its side; and build it with lower, second and third decks.
17 “Then I myself will bring the flood of water over the earth to destroy from under heaven every living thing that breathes; everything on earth will be destroyed. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you; you will come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
19 “From everything living, from each kind of living being, you are to bring two into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they are to be male and female. 20 Of each kind of bird, each kind of livestock, and each kind of animal creeping on the ground, two are to come to you, so that they can be kept alive. 21 Also take from all the kinds of food that are eaten, and collect it for yourself; it is to be food for you and for them.” 22 This is what Noach did; he did all that God ordered him to do.
Bereshis 4-6
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 And HaAdam knew Chavah (Eve) his isha; and she conceived, and bore Kayin (Cain), and said, Kaniti (I have acquired) ish with Hashem.
2 And again she bore his ach Hevel (Abel). And Hevel was a ro’eh tzon, but Kayin was an oved adamah (tiller of soil).
3 And in ketz yamim it came to pass, that Kayin brought of the p’ri haadamah a minchah unto Hashem.
4 And Hevel, he also brought of the bechorot of his tzon and of the chelev thereof. And Hashem regarded [with favor, respect] unto Hevel and to his minchah:
5 But unto Kayin and to his minchah He had not regard . And Kayin was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 And Hashem said unto Kayin, Why art thou angry? And why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest right, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not right, chattat croucheth at the petach. And unto thee shall be its teshukah (desire), and thou must rule over it.
8 And Kayin talked with Hevel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the sadeh, that Kayin rose up against Hevel his brother, and killed him.
9 And Hashem said unto Kayin, Where is Hevel thy brother? And he said, I know not; am I shomer achi (my brother’s keeper)?
10 And He said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s dahm crieth unto Me from haadamah.
11 And now art thou arur (cursed) from haadamah, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s dahm from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest haadamah, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her ko’ach (strength); na (restless fugitive) vanad (and a wanderer, nomad) shalt thou be in ha’aretz.
13 And Kayin said unto Hashem, My avon (iniquity, punishment for guilt) is greater than I can bear.
14 See, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the adamah; and from Thy face shall I be hidden and I shall be a na (restless fugitive) vanad (and a wanderer, nomad) in ha’aretz; and it shall come to pass, that whoever findeth me shall kill me.
15 And Hashem said unto him, Therefore whoever killeth Kayin, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Hashem placed an ot (mark) upon Kayin, so that none finding him should kill him.
16 And Kayin went out from the presence of Hashem, and dwelt in Eretz Nod, east of Eden.
17 And Kayin knew his isha; and she conceived, and bore Chanokh (Enoch); and he built an ir (city), and called the shem of the ir, after the shem beno, Chanokh (Enoch).
18 And unto Chanokh (Enoch) was born Irad; and Irad fathered Mechuyael; and Mechuyael fathered Metushael; and Metushael fathered Lamech.
19 And Lamech took unto him two nashim; the shem of the one was Adah, and the shem of the second Tzilah.
20 And Adah bore Yaval; he was the av of such as dwell in ohel, and have mikneh.
21 And his brother’s shem was Yuval; he was the av of all such as play kinnor (harp) and ugav (flute).
22 And Tzilah, she also bore Tuval-Kayin, a forger of every cutting tool of nechoshet and barzel; and the achot of Tuval-Kayin was Naamah.
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Tzilah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, give heed to my speech; for I have slain an ish for my wounding, and a yeled for my chabburah (see Ga.6:17).
24 If Kayin (Cain) shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and seven times over.
25 And Adam knew his isha again; and she bore a ben, and called shmo Shet; for Elohim, said she, hath appointed me another zera in place of Hevel, whom Kayin killed.
26 And to Shet, to him also there was born a ben; and he called shmo Enosh; then began men to call upon the Shem of Hashem.
5 This is the Sefer Toldot Adam. In the yom that barah Elohim Adam, in the demut Elohim He made him;
2 Zakhar and nekevah He created them; and blessed them, and called the shem of them "Adam," in the yom when they were created.
3 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty shanah and fathered in his own demut and after his tzelem (image) and called shmo Shet:
4 And the days of Adam after he had fathered Shet were shemoneh me’ot shanah; and he fathered banim and banot:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty shanah: and he died.
6 And Shet lived a hundred and five shanah, and fathered Enosh;
7 And Shet lived after he fathered Enosh eight hundred and seven shanah, and fathered banim and banot:
8 And all the days of Shet were nine hundred and twelve shanah; and he died.
9 And Enosh lived ninety shanah, and fathered Kenan;
10 And Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan eight hundred and fifteen shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
11 And all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five shanim; and he died.
12 And Kenan lived seventy shanah and fathered Mahalal’el;
13 And Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalal’el eight hundred and forty shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
14 And all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten shanim; and he died.
15 And Mahalal’el lived sixty and five shanah, and fathered Yered;
16 And Mahalal’el lived after he fathered Yered eight hundred and thirty shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
17 And all the days of Mahalal’el were eight hundred ninety and five shanah; and he died.
18 And Yered lived a hundred sixty and two shanah, and he fathered Chanoch (Enoch):
19 And Yered lived after he fathered Chanoch (Enoch) eight hundred shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
20 And all the days of Yered were nine hundred sixty and two shanah; and he died.
21 And Chanoch lived sixty and five shanah, and fathered Metushelach;
22 And Chanoch walked with HaElohim after he fathered Metushelach three hundred shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
23 And all the days of Chanoch were three hundred sixty and five shanah;
24 And Chanoch walked with HaElohim; and he was not; for Elohim took him.
25 And Metushelach lived a hundred eighty and seven shanah, and fathered Lamech.
26 And Metushelach lived after he fathered Lamech seven hundred eighty and two shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
27 And all the days of Metushelach were nine hundred sixty and nine shanah; and he died.
28 And Lamech lived a hundred eighty and two shanah and fathered ben;
29 And he called shmo Noach, saying, Zeh yenachamenu (this shall comfort us) in our work and toil of our hands, because of the adamah which Hashem hath cursed.
30 And Lamech lived after he fathered Noach five hundred ninety and five shanah, and fathered banim and banot;
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven shanah; and he died.
32 And Noach was five hundred years old; and Noach fathered Shem, Cham, and Yephet.
6 And it came to pass, when HaAdam began to multiply on the face of ha’adamah, and banot were born unto them,
2 That the bnei HaElohim saw the banot HaAdam that they were tovot; and they took them nashim of all which they chose.
3 And Hashem said, My Ruach [Hakodesh] shall not always strive with Adam, for that he also is basar: yet his yamim shall be a hundred and twenty shanah.
4 HaNefilim were on ha’aretz in those yamim; and also after that, when the bnei HaElohim came in unto the banot HaAdam, and they bore children to them, the same became gibborim which were of old, men of renown.
5 And Hashem saw that the wickedness of HaAdam was great in ha’aretz and that every yetzer (inclination) of the machshevot (thoughts) of his lev was only rah (evil) continually.
6 And Hashem relented that He had made HaAdam on ha’aretz, and He was hurt in His lev.
7 And Hashem said, I will wipe out HaAdam whom I have created from the face of ha’adamah; both Adam, and Behemah, and the Remes and the Oph HaShomayim; for I relent that I have made them.
8 But Noach found chen (grace, unmerited favor) in the eyes of Hashem.
[NOACH]
9 These are the toldot of Noach; Noach was an ish tzaddik and tamim among those of his time, and Noach’s halachah was with HaElohim.
10 And Noach fathered three banim: Shem, Cham, and Yephet.
11 Ha’aretz also was corrupt before HaElohim, and ha’aretz was filled with chamas.
12 And Elohim looked upon ha’aretz, and, hinei, it was corrupt; for kol basar had corrupted his derech upon ha’aretz.
13 And Elohim said unto Noach, The ketz (end) of kol basar is come before Me; for ha’aretz is filled with chamas because of them; and, hineni, I will destroy them with ha’aretz.
14 Make thee a tevah (ark) of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the tevah (ark), and shalt coat it within and without with tar.
15 And this is how thou shalt build it: the length of the tevah (ark) shall be three hundred cubits, the width of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
16 A roof shalt thou make to the tevah (ark), and thou shalt finish it to a cubit from the top; and the door of the tevah (ark) shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third decks shalt thou make it.
17 And, hineni, I, even I, do bring a mabbul of waters upon ha’aretz, to destroy kol basar, wherein is the ruach chayyim, from under Shomayim; and everything that is in ha’aretz shall perish.
18 But with thee will I establish My brit (covenant); and thou shalt come into the tevah (ark), thou, and thy banim, and thy isha, and the nashim of thy banim with thee.
19 And of every living thing of kol basar, two of every kind shalt thou bring into the tevah (ark), to keep them alive with thee; they shall be zachar and nekevah.
20 Of birds after their kind, and of behemah after their kind, of every remes of ha’adamah after its kind, two of every kind shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for ochel for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noach; according to all that Elohim commanded him, so did he.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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