1. Now Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD,” she said, “I have brought forth a man.”
2. Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3. In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5. but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
6. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your countenance fallen?
7. 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.”
8. 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.
9. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10. “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
11. Now you are cursed and banished 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 its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13. But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14. Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and I will be hidden from Your presence; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15. Then the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain shall suffer sevenfold vengeance.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
16. So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The Descendants of Cain
17. 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.
18. And 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. And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
20. Adah gave birth to 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 who play the harp and flute.
22. And Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of every kind of tool 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 killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
24. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Seth and Enosh
25. Adam had relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
26. And a son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.