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knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 After this, she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought an offering of some of the fruits of the soil to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering from some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to have you, but you must master it.”
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 Then the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! 11 So now you are cursed and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear! 14 Today You are driving me away from the soil, and I will be hidden from Your face and from Your presence. I will be a fugitive and a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain so that anyone who found him would not kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Afterward Cain built a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. 18 Irad was born to Enoch, Irad was the father of Mehujael, Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and keep livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. 22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
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 seven times,
then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed another child for me in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh.
At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.