Read the Bible

Cain and Abel

¹ Now the man ^(F1)had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a male child with the help of the LORD."² And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now ^(C1)Abel was ^(C2)a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground.³ So it came about ^(F1)in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.^4 (C1)Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And ^(C2)the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering;⁵ but ^(C1)for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So ^(C2)Cain became very angry and his face ^(F1)was gloomy.⁶ Then the LORD said to Cain, "^(C1)Why are you angry? And why is your face ^(F1)gloomy?⁷ "^(C1)If you do well, ^(F1)will your face not be ^(F2)cheerful? ^(C2)And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, ^(C3)but you must master it."⁸ Cain ^(F1)talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and ^(C1)killed him.

⁹ Then the LORD said to Cain, "^(C1)Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"¹⁰ Then He said, "What have you done? ^(C1)The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to Me from the ground.¹¹ "Now ^(C1)you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.¹² "^(C1)When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; ^(C2)you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth."¹³ Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to endure!¹⁴ "Behold, You have ^(C1)driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and ^(C2)I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and ^(C3)whoever finds me will kill me."¹⁵ So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him ^(C1)seven times as much." And the LORD ^(F1)(C2)placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.

¹⁶ Then Cain left the presence ^(C1)of the LORD, and ^(F1)settled in the land of ^(F2)Nod, east of Eden.

¹⁷ Cain ^(F1)had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son.¹⁸ Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.¹⁹ Lamech took ^(C1)two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.²⁰ Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.²¹ His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute.²² As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

²³ Lamech said to his wives,

"Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Pay attention to my words,
^(C1)For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me!

²⁴ "If Cain is avenged ^(C1)seven times,
Then Lamech seventy-seven times!"

^25 (C1)Adam ^(F1)had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him ^(F2)Seth, for, she said, "God ^(F3)has appointed me another ^(F4)child in place of Abel, ^(C2)because Cain killed him."²⁶ To Seth also ^(C1)a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began ^(C2)to call ^(F1)upon the name of the LORD.