该隐和亚伯

亚当和他妻子夏娃同房,夏娃便怀孕,生了该隐。她说:“耶和华让我得了一个男孩。” 后来,夏娃又生了该隐的弟弟亚伯。长大后,亚伯做了牧羊人,该隐做了农夫。

到了收成的时候,该隐把地里的出产当祭物献给耶和华, 亚伯也把羊群中头生的羊及其最肥美的部分献给耶和华。耶和华悦纳亚伯和他的祭物, 却不悦纳该隐和他的祭物。该隐便非常恼火,面带怒容。 耶和华问该隐:“你为什么恼火?为什么面带怒容? 如果你做得对,难道不会蒙悦纳吗?如果你做得不对,罪就蹲在你的门口要控制你,但你必须制服罪。”

该隐对弟弟亚伯说:“我们去田间吧!”[a]他们在田间的时候,该隐动手打亚伯,把他杀了。

后来,耶和华问该隐:“你弟弟亚伯在哪里?”他说:“我不知道!难道我是弟弟的看护人吗?” 10 耶和华说:“你做了什么事?你弟弟的血从地里向我哭诉。 11 地张开口从你手上接受了你弟弟的血,你在地上必受咒诅。 12 你种地,地却不会再为你长出任何东西,你必在地上四处漂泊。” 13 该隐对耶和华说:“这惩罚太重!我承受不了。 14 今天你把我赶出去,使我不能再见你的面。我在地上四处漂泊,见到我的人都会杀我。” 15 耶和华对他说:“不会的,因为凡杀你的,必遭受七倍的报应。”于是,耶和华在该隐身上留下一个记号,免得见到他的人杀他。 16 该隐离开耶和华,来到伊甸东边的挪得住下来。

该隐的后代

17 该隐和妻子同房,他的妻子就怀孕,生了以诺。该隐建了一座城,用他儿子的名字给这城取名叫以诺。 18 以诺生以拿,以拿生米户雅利,米户雅利生玛土撒利,玛土撒利生拉麦。 19 拉麦娶了两个妻子,一个叫亚大,另一个叫洗拉。 20 亚大生了亚八,亚八是游牧民族的祖先, 21 亚八的弟弟犹八是吹奏乐器之人的鼻祖。 22 洗拉生了土八·该隐,他是打造各种铜铁器具的匠人[b],他的妹妹叫拿玛。

23 一天,拉麦对他的两个妻子说:

“亚大,洗拉,你们听我的声音;
拉麦的妻子啊,侧耳听我的话,
有人伤我,我杀了他,
青年打我,我宰了他。
24 杀该隐的遭受七倍的报应,
杀拉麦的遭受七十七倍的报应。”

塞特和以挪士

25 亚当又与妻子夏娃同房,夏娃生了一个儿子,取名叫塞特,因为她说:“上帝赐我另一个儿子来代替亚伯,因为该隐杀了他。” 26 塞特生了一个儿子,给他取名叫以挪士。那时候,人才开始求告耶和华。

Footnotes

  1. 4:8 我们去田间吧!”参照七十士译本,希伯来文无此句。
  2. 4:22 他是打造各种铜铁器具的匠人”或译“他是铜匠、铁匠的祖先”。

Cain and Abel

The man Adam knew his wife Eve intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have given life to[a] a man with the Lord’s help.” She gave birth a second time to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel cared for the flocks, and Cain farmed the fertile land.

Some time later, Cain presented an offering to the Lord from the land’s crops while Abel presented his flock’s oldest offspring with their fat. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice but didn’t look favorably on Cain and his sacrifice. Cain became very angry and looked resentful. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why do you look so resentful? If you do the right thing, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do the right thing, sin will be waiting at the door ready to strike! It will entice you, but you must rule over it.”

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

The Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

Cain said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s guardian?”

10 The Lord said, “What did you do? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 You are now cursed from the ground that opened its mouth to take your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you farm the fertile land, it will no longer grow anything for you, and you will become a roving nomad on the earth.”

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Now that you’ve driven me away from the fertile land and I am hidden from your presence, I’m about to become a roving nomad on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15 The Lord said to him, “It won’t happen;[c] anyone who kills Cain will be paid back seven times.” The Lord put a sign on Cain so that no one who found him would assault him. 16 Cain left the Lord’s presence, and he settled down in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Cain’s descendants

17 Cain knew his wife intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named the city after his son Enoch.

18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives, the first named Adah and the second Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and own livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of those who play stringed and wind instruments. 22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the ancestor of[d] blacksmiths and all artisans of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice;
        wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words:
I killed a man for wounding me,
        a boy for striking me;
24     so Cain will be paid back seven times
        and Lamech seventy-seven times.”

25 Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth[e] “because God has given me another child in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 Seth also fathered a son and named him Enosh. At that time, people began to worship in the Lord’s name.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 Or created; Heb sounds similar to Cain.
  2. Genesis 4:8 LXX, Syr, Vulg, Sam; MT lacks Let’s go out to the field.
  3. Genesis 4:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT therefore
  4. Genesis 4:22 Heb lacks the ancestor of.
  5. Genesis 4:25 Sounds like the Heb verb gave

Cain and Abel

Adam[a] made love to his wife(A) Eve,(B) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b](C) She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.(D)

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.(E) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering(F) to the Lord.(G) And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions(H) from some of the firstborn of his flock.(I) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,(J) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?(K) Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;(L) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.(M)

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.(N)

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”(O)

“I don’t know,(P)” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.(Q) 11 Now you are under a curse(R) and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you.(S) You will be a restless wanderer(T) on the earth.(U)

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence;(V) I will be a restless wanderer on the earth,(W) and whoever finds me will kill me.”(X)

15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain(Y) will suffer vengeance(Z) seven times over.(AA)” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence(AB) and lived in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden.(AC)

17 Cain made love to his wife,(AD) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city,(AE) and he named it after his son(AF) Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married(AG) two women,(AH) one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments(AI) and pipes.(AJ) 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged(AK) all kinds of tools out of[g] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
    wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed(AL) a man for wounding me,
    a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged(AM) seven times,(AN)
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.(AO)

25 Adam made love to his wife(AP) again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[h](AQ) saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”(AR) 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.(AS)

At that time people began to call on[i] the name of the Lord.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 Or The man
  2. Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired.
  3. Genesis 4:1 Or have acquired
  4. Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”
  5. Genesis 4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well
  6. Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14).
  7. Genesis 4:22 Or who instructed all who work in
  8. Genesis 4:25 Seth probably means granted.
  9. Genesis 4:26 Or to proclaim

Cain Murders Abel(A)

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore [a]Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother [b]Abel. Now (B)Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And [c]in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit (C)of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of (D)the firstborn of his flock and of (E)their fat. And the Lord (F)respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is [d]for you, but you should rule over it.”

Now Cain [e]talked with Abel his [f]brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and (G)killed him.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”

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

10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood (J)cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now (K)you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My [g]punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; (L)I shall be (M)hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that (N)anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15 And the Lord said to him, [h]“Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him (O)sevenfold.” And the Lord set a (P)mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

The Family of Cain

16 Then Cain (Q)went out from the (R)presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of [i]Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, (S)and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

19 Then Lamech took for himself (T)two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and [j]flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

23 Then Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have [k]killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man [l]for hurting me.
24 (U)If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

A New Son

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and (V)named him [m]Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, (W)to him also a son was born; and he named him [n]Enosh. Then men began (X)to call on the name of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 Lit. Acquire
  2. Genesis 4:2 Lit. Breath or Nothing
  3. Genesis 4:3 Lit. at the end of days
  4. Genesis 4:7 Lit. toward
  5. Genesis 4:8 Lit. said to
  6. Genesis 4:8 Sam., LXX, Syr., Vg. add “Let us go out to the field.”
  7. Genesis 4:13 iniquity
  8. Genesis 4:15 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. Not so;
  9. Genesis 4:16 Lit. Wandering
  10. Genesis 4:21 pipe
  11. Genesis 4:23 slain a man for my wound
  12. Genesis 4:23 for my hurt
  13. Genesis 4:25 Lit. Appointed
  14. Genesis 4:26 Gr. Enos, Luke 3:38