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Cain Murders Abel

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have produced[a] a man with the help of the Lord.’ Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 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 is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.’

Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out to the field.’[b] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’ 10 And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.’ 13 Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.’ 15 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Not so![c] Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.’ And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod,[d] east of Eden.

Beginnings of Civilization

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

‘Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
    a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
    truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.’

25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed[e] for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.’ 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:1 The verb in Heb resembles the word for Cain
  2. Genesis 4:8 Sam Gk Syr Compare Vg: MT lacks Let us go out to the field
  3. Genesis 4:15 Gk Syr Vg: Heb Therefore
  4. Genesis 4:16 That is Wandering
  5. Genesis 4:25 The verb in Heb resembles the word for Seth

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

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

Si Cain at si Abel

Pagkatapos noon, sumiping si Adan sa asawa niyang si Eva at nagbuntis ito. Nang manganak si Eva, sinabi niya, “Nagkaroon ako ng anak na lalaki sa pamamagitan ng tulong ng Panginoon, kaya Cain ang ipapangalan ko sa kanya.”[a] At muling nanganak si Eva ng lalaki at Abel ang ipinangalan sa kanya.

Nang lumaki na sila, si Abel ay naging pastol ng mga tupa at kambing, at si Cain naman ay naging magsasaka. Isang araw, naghandog si Cain sa Panginoon ng galing sa ani niya. Si Abel naman ay kumuha ng isang panganay sa mga inaalagaan niyang hayop, kinatay ito at inihandog sa Dios ang pinakamagandang bahagi. Natuwa ang Panginoon kay Abel at sa handog nito, pero hindi siya natuwa kay Cain at sa handog nito. At dahil dito, sumimangot si Cain at labis ang kanyang galit. Kaya tinanong siya ng Panginoon, “Ano ba ang ikinagagalit mo? Bakit ka nakasimangot? Kung mabuti lang ang ginawa mo, maligaya ka[b] sana. Pero mag-ingat ka! Dahil kung hindi mabuti ang ginagawa mo, ang kasalanan ay maghahari sa iyo. Sapagkat ang kasalanan ay katulad ng mabagsik na hayop na nagbabantay sa iyo para tuklawin ka. Kaya kailangang talunin mo ito.”

Isang araw, sinabi ni Cain kay Abel, “Halika, pumunta tayo sa bukid.” Nang naroon na sila, pinatay ni Cain ang kapatid niyang si Abel.

Pagkatapos, nagtanong ang Panginoon kay Cain, “Nasaan ang kapatid mo?” Sumagot si Cain, “Ewan ko, hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya. Bakit, ako ba ang tagapagbantay niya?” 10 Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Cain, “Ano ang iyong ginawa? Ang dugo ng kapatid moʼy parang tinig na nagmamakaawa na parusahan ko ang taong pumatay sa kanya. 11 Dahil sa ginawa mo, isusumpa ka. Mula ngayon, hindi ka na makakapagsaka sa lupa na sumipsip ng dugo ng iyong kapatid na pinatay mo. 12 Kahit magtanim ka pa, ang lupa ay hindi na magbibigay sa iyo ng ani. At wala kang pirmihang matitirhan, kaya magpapagala-gala ka kahit saan.”

13 Sinabi ni Cain sa Panginoon, “Napakabigat ng parusang ito para sa akin. 14 Itinataboy ninyo ako ngayon sa lupaing ito at sa inyong harapan. Wala na akong matitirhan, kaya kahit saan na lang ako pupunta. At kung may makakakita sa akin, tiyak na papatayin niya ako.”

15 Pero sinabi ng Panginoon kay Cain, “Hindi iyan mangyayari sa iyo! Sapagkat ang sinumang papatay sa iyo ay gagantihan ko ng pitong beses.”[c] Kaya nilagyan ng Panginoon ng palatandaan si Cain para hindi siya patayin ng kahit sinong makakakita sa kanya. 16 Pagkatapos, lumayo si Cain sa Panginoon at doon tumira sa lugar ng Nod,[d] sa bandang silangan ng Eden.

Ang mga Lahi ni Cain

17 Sumiping si Cain sa asawa niya. Nagbuntis ito at nanganak ng lalaki at pinangalanan nila siyang Enoc. Nagpatayo si Cain ng isang lungsod at pinangalanan niya itong Enoc kagaya ng pangalan ng kanyang anak. 18 Si Enoc ay may anak ding lalaki na ang pangalan ay Irad. Si Irad ang ama ni Mehujael; si Mehujael ang ama ni Metusael; at si Metusael ang ama ni Lamec. 19 Si Lamec ay may dalawang asawa na sina Ada at Zila. 20 Ipinanganak ni Ada si Jabal na siyang pinagmulan ng mga tao na nakatira sa mga tolda, na nag-aalaga ng mga hayop. 21 May kapatid si Jabal na lalaki na ang pangalan ay Jubal, na siyang pinagmulan ng lahat na tagatugtog ng alpa at plauta. 22 Si Zila ay nagkaanak din ng lalaki na ang pangalan ay Tubal Cain. Si Tubal Cain ay gumagawa ng lahat ng klase ng kagamitan mula sa bakal at tanso. May kapatid siyang babae na si Naama.

23 Isang araw, sinabi ni Lamec sa dalawa niyang asawa,

    “Ada at Zila, mga asawa ko, pakinggan nʼyo ako. Pinatay ko ang isang binatilyo dahil sinaktan niya ako.
24 Kung pitong beses ang tindi ng ganti sa taong pumatay kay Cain,
    77 beses ang tindi ng ganti sa taong papatay sa akin.”

Ang mga Lahi ni Set

25 Sumiping muli si Adan kay Eva at nanganak ng isang lalaki at pinangalanan niya itong Set.[e] Sinabi niya, “Muli akong binigyan ng Dios ng anak na lalaki bilang kapalit ni Abel na pinatay ni Cain.” 26 Nang bandang huli, si Set ay nagkaroon din ng anak na lalaki na pinangalanan niyang Enosh.

Nang panahong isinilang si Enosh, ang mga taoʼy nagsimulang tumawag sa pangalan ng Panginoon.

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Cain: Maaaring ang ibig sabihin, nakaangkin.
  2. 4:7 maligaya ka: o, tinanggap ko ang iyong handog.
  3. 4:15 pitong beses: Ang ibig sabihin, pitong beses ang tindi ng ganti.
  4. 4:16 Nod: Maaaring ang ibig sabihin, kahit saang lugar na lang pumupunta.
  5. 4:25 Set: Maaaring ang ibig sabihin, ibinigay.