Print Page Options

該隱和亞伯

亞當和他的妻子夏娃同房,夏娃就懷孕,生了該隱,就說:“藉著耶和華的幫助,我得了一個男兒。” 她又生了該隱的弟弟亞伯。亞伯是牧羊的,該隱是種地的。 有一天,該隱把地裡的出產拿來,當作禮物獻給耶和華。 亞伯也把自己羊群中一些頭生的,和羊的脂油拿來獻上。耶和華看中了亞伯和他的禮物; 只是沒有看中該隱和他的禮物。該隱就非常忿怒,垂頭喪氣。 耶和華對該隱說:“你為甚麼忿怒呢?你為甚麼垂頭喪氣呢? 你若行得好,豈不可以抬起頭來嗎?你若行得不好,罪就伏在門口了;它要纏住你,你卻要制伏它。” 該隱對他的弟弟亞伯說:“我們到田間去吧。”(《馬索拉文本》缺“我們到田間去吧”一句,現參照其他抄本及古譯本補上。),該隱就起來襲擊他的弟弟亞伯,把他殺了。

耶和華問該隱:“你的弟弟亞伯在哪裡?”他回答:“我不知道;難道我是看守我弟弟的嗎?” 10 耶和華說:“你作了甚麼事呢?你弟弟的血有聲音從地裡向我呼叫。 11 地開了口,從你手裡接受了你弟弟的血,現在你要從這地受咒詛。 12 你種地,地也不再給你效力;你必在地上流離失所。” 13 該隱對耶和華說:“我的刑罰太重,過於我所能擔當。 14 看哪,今日你趕逐我離開這地,以致我要躲避你的面;我必在地上流離失所,遇見我的,都要殺我。” 15 耶和華對該隱說:“絕不會這樣,殺該隱的,必遭報七倍。”耶和華就給該隱立了一個記號,免得遇見他的人擊殺他。

16 於是該隱從耶和華面前出去,住在伊甸東邊的挪得地。

該隱的後代

17 該隱和妻子同房,她就懷孕,生了以諾。該隱建造了一座城,就按著他兒子的名,給那城叫作以諾。 18 以諾生以拿,以拿生米戶雅利,米戶雅利生瑪土撒利,瑪土撒利生拉麥。 19 拉麥娶了兩個妻子,一個名叫亞大,另一個名叫洗拉。 20 亞大生雅八,雅八就是居住帳棚、牧養牲畜的人的鼻祖。 21 雅八的兄弟名叫猶八;猶八是所有彈琴吹簫的人的鼻祖。 22 洗拉也生了土八.該隱,就是打造各種銅鐵器具的匠人;土八.該隱的妹妹是拿瑪。 23 拉麥對他的兩個妻子說:

“亞大和洗拉,要聽我的聲音;

拉麥的妻子,聆聽我的話:

壯年人傷我,我必殺他;

青年人損我,我必害他;

24 人若殺該隱,要遭報七倍;

人若殺拉麥,必遭報七十七倍!”

塞特和以挪士

25 亞當又和妻子同房,她就生了一個兒子,給他起名叫塞特,因為她說:“ 神給我立了另一個後裔代替亞伯,因為該隱殺了他。” 26 塞特也生了一個兒子,就給他起名叫以挪士。那時人才開始呼求耶和華的名。

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

Adam[a] and Eve had a son. Then Eve said, “I'll name him Cain because I got[b] him with the help of the Lord.” Later she had another son and named him Abel.

Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land. One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the Lord, (A) and 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, but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

The Lord said to Cain:

What's wrong with you? Why do you look so angry? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling.[c] 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!

(B) Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go for a walk.”[d] And when they were out in a field, Cain attacked and killed him.

Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel?”

“How should I know?” he answered. “Am I supposed to look after my brother?”

10 (C) Then 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. 11 And 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. 12 When 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.

13 “This punishment is too hard!” Cain said. 14 “You're making me leave my home and live far from you.[e] I will have to wander about without a home, and just anyone could kill me.”

15 “No!”[f] 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. 16 But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering,[g] which is east of Eden.

More and More People

17 Later, 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. 18 Then Enoch had a son named Irad, who had a son named Mehujael, who had a son named Methushael, who had a son named Lamech.

19 Lamech married Adah, then Zillah. 20-21 Lamech 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.

22 Lamech 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.

23 One day, Lamech said to his two wives, “A young man wounded me, and I killed him. 24 Anyone who tries to get even with me will be punished ten times more than anyone who tries to get even with Cain.”

25 Adam and his wife had another son. They named him Seth, because they said, “God has given[h] us a son to take the place of Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain.” 26 Later, Seth had a son and named him Enosh.

About this time people started worshiping the Lord.[i]

Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Adam: See the note at 3.20.
  2. 4.1 Cain … got: In Hebrew “Cain” sounds like “got.”
  3. 4.7 you would be smiling: Or “I would have accepted your offering.”
  4. 4.8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's … walk.” Most ancient translations; Hebrew “Cain spoke to his brother Abel.”
  5. 4.14 live … you: It was generally believed that the Lord was with his people only in their own land.
  6. 4.15 No: Three ancient translations; Hebrew “Very well!”
  7. 4.16 Wandering: The Hebrew text has “Nod,” which means “wandering.”
  8. 4.25 Seth … given: In Hebrew “Seth” sounds like “given.”
  9. 4.26 worshiping the Lord: Or “worshiping in the name of the Lord.”

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

And 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:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with 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.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

23 And 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 to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

Cain and Abel

Now the man [a]knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and [b]gave birth to [c]Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a [d]man with the help of Yahweh.” And again, she [e]gave birth to his brother Abel. (A)Abel was (B)a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. So it happened [f]in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh of the fruit of the ground. (C)Abel, on his part, also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And (D)Yahweh had regard for Abel and for his offering; but (E)for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So (F)Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. Then Yahweh said to Cain, “(G)Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? (H)If you do well, [g]will not your countenance be lifted up? (I)And if you do not do well, sin is lying at the door; and its desire is for you, (J)but you must rule over it.” Then Cain [h]spoke to Abel his brother; and it happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and (K)killed him.

Then Yahweh said to Cain, “(L)Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done? (M)The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11 And now, (N)cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 (O)When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; (P)you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Behold, You have (Q)driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and (R)I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and it will be that (S)whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him (T)sevenfold.” And Yahweh [i](U)appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one who found him would strike him.

16 Then Cain went out from the presence (V)of Yahweh and [j]settled in the land of [k]Nod, east of Eden.

17 Then Cain [l]knew his wife, and she conceived and [m]gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad [n]was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael [o]was the father of Methushael, and Methushael [p]was the father of Lamech. 19 And Lamech took for himself (W)two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 And Adah [q]gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 As for Zillah, she also [r]gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah,
Hear my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give ear to my word,
(X)For I [s]have killed a man for [t]striking me;
And a boy for wounding me;
24 If Cain is avenged (Y)sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

25 (Z)Then Adam [u]knew his wife again; and she [v]gave birth to a son and named him [w]Seth, for she said, “God [x]has set for me another [y]seed in place of Abel, (AA)for Cain killed him.” 26 And to Seth, to him also, (AB)a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began (AC)to call [z]upon the name of Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 Or had relations with
  2. Genesis 4:1 Or bore Cain, cf. 3:16
  3. Genesis 4:1 Lit gotten one
  4. Genesis 4:1 Or man, Yahweh
  5. Genesis 4:2 Or bore his brother Abel, cf. 3:16
  6. Genesis 4:3 Lit at the end of days
  7. Genesis 4:7 Or surely you will be accepted.
  8. Genesis 4:8 Lit said; ancient versions add let us go into the field
  9. Genesis 4:15 Or set a mark on
  10. Genesis 4:16 Lit dwelt
  11. Genesis 4:16 Wandering
  12. Genesis 4:17 Or had relations
  13. Genesis 4:17 Or bore Enoch, cf. 3:16
  14. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  15. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  16. Genesis 4:18 Lit begot
  17. Genesis 4:20 Or bore Jabal, cf. 3:16
  18. Genesis 4:22 Or bore Tubal-cain, cf. 3:16
  19. Genesis 4:23 Or kill
  20. Genesis 4:23 Or bruising, cf. Ex 21:25
  21. Genesis 4:25 Or had relations
  22. Genesis 4:25 Or bore
  23. Genesis 4:25 Heb Sheth
  24. Genesis 4:25 Heb shath
  25. Genesis 4:25 Or offspring
  26. Genesis 4:26 Or by