Cain and Abel

1Adam had relations with his wife Eve. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “Through YHWH, I have created a man.” 2Again she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.

Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3As time passed, Cain brought an offering to YHWH from the fruit of the ground. 4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. YHWH respected Abel and his offering, 5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. 6YHWH said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? 7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” 8Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

9YHWH said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?”

He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10YHWH said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. 11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12From now on, when you cultivate the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”

13Cain said to YHWH, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Look! You have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”

15YHWH said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” YHWH appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him down.

16Cain left YHWH’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. 22Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23Lamech said to his wives,

25Adam had relations with his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26A son was also born to Seth, and he called him by the name Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of YHWH.