Genesis 4 :: New International Version (NIV)

Cain and Abel

(Luk 11:51; Heb 11:4; 12:24 )

Gen 4:1Adam[fn] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[fn] She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth[fn] a man.”

Gen 4:2

Gen 4:2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

Gen 4:3

Gen 4:3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.

Gen 4:4

Gen 4:4And 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,

Gen 4:5

Gen 4:5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Gen 4:6

Gen 4:6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

Gen 4:7

Gen 4:7If 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.”

Gen 4:8

Gen 4:8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[fn] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Gen 4:9

Gen 4:9Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Gen 4:10

Gen 4:10The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Gen 4:11

Gen 4:11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Gen 4:12

Gen 4:12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

Gen 4:13

Gen 4:13Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

Gen 4:14

Gen 4:14Today 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.”

Gen 4:15

Gen 4:15But the LORD said to him, “Not so[fn]; 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.

Gen 4:16

Gen 4:16So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[fn] east of Eden.

Gen 4:17

Gen 4:17Cain 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.

Gen 4:18

Gen 4:18To 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.

Gen 4:19

Gen 4:19Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

Gen 4:20

Gen 4:20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

Gen 4:21

Gen 4:21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.

Gen 4:22

Gen 4:22Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of[fn] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Gen 4:23

Gen 4:23Lamech 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.

Gen 4:24

Gen 4:24If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Gen 4:25

Gen 4:25Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[fn] saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

Gen 4:26

Gen 4:26Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on[fn] the name of the LORD.