Genesis 4:8–26

⁸Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I supposed to look after my brother?”

¹⁰The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.

¹¹“So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from the ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹²When you work the ground, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth.”

¹³Cain said to the Lord, “You are punishing me more than I can take. ¹⁴Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from you. I’ll be a restless person who wanders around on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me.”

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “No. Anyone who kills you will be paid back seven times.” The Lord put a mark on Cain. Then anyone who found him wouldn’t kill him.

¹⁶So Cain went away from the Lord. He lived in the land of Nod. It was east of Eden.

¹⁷Cain made love to his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city. He named it after his son Enoch.

¹⁸Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.

¹⁹Lamech married two women. One was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah. ²⁰Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. ²¹His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of everyone who plays the harp and flute.

²²Zillah also had a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

²³Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me.

You wives of Lamech, hear my words.

I have killed a man because he wounded me.

I have killed a young man because he hurt me.

²⁴Anyone who would have killed Cain would have been paid back seven times.

But anyone who hurts me will be paid back 77 times.”

²⁵Adam made love to his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, “God has given me another child. The child will take the place of Abel, because Cain killed him.”

²⁶Seth also had a son. He named him Enosh.

At that time people began to worship the Lord.