Text Bible Reading
Genesis 4 (NIV)
- 1
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.”
- 2
Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
- 3
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord .
- 4
And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
- 5
but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
- 6
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? 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 your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
- 8
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” 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
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
- 11
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
- 12
When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. 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 from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
- 15
But the Lord said to him, “Not so ; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
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So Cain went out from the Lord ’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
- 17
Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
- 18
To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
- 19
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
- 20
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.
- 21
His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.
- 22
Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
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Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
- 24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
- 25
Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
- 26
Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord .
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Genesis Chapter 4 complete.
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