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Cain and Abel

(Romans 2:1-16; Jude 1:3-16)

¹ And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain^(a). “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.² Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

³ So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,⁴ while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And 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 “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has 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.”

Cain Murders Abel

⁸ Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.&rdquo^(a); And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ And 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^(a) is greater than I can bear.¹⁴ Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”¹⁵ “Not so^(a)!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” 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 settled in the land of Nod^(a), east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

¹⁹ And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.²⁰ And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.²¹ And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.²² Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of 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 slain 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 And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth^(a), saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”²⁶ And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to invoke^(a) the name of the LORD.