Cain grows jealous of his brother Abel and murders him. God confronts Cain, who becomes a wanderer under God's protective mark. The chapter traces Cain's descendants, then the birth of Seth, when people begin to call on the name of the LORD.
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife ; and she conceived , and bare Cain , and said , I have gotten a man from the LORD .
2 And she again bare his brother Abel . And Abel was a keeper of sheep , but Cain was a tiller of the ground .
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD .
4 And Abel , he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering :
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect . And Cain was very wroth , and his countenance fell .
6 And the LORD said unto Cain , Why art thou wroth ? and why is thy countenance fallen ?
7 If thou doest well , shalt thou not be accepted ? and if thou doest not well , sin lieth at the door . And unto thee shall be his desire , and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother : and it came to pass, when they were in the field , that Cain rose up against Abel his brother , and slew him .
9 And the LORD said unto Cain , Where is Abel thy brother ? And he said , I know not: Am I my brother's keeper ?
10 And he said , What hast thou done ? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground .
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth , which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand ;
12 When thou tillest the ground , it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength ; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth .
13 And Cain said unto the LORD , My punishment is greater than I can bear .
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth ; and from thy face shall I be hid ; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth ; and it shall come to pass , that every one that findeth me shall slay me .
15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain , vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold . And the LORD set a mark upon Cain , lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD , and dwelt in the land of Nod , on the east of Eden .
17 And Cain knew his wife ; and she conceived , and bare Enoch : and he builded a city , and called the name of the city , after the name of his son , Enoch .
18 And unto Enoch was born Irad : and Irad begat Mehujael : and Mehujael begat Methusael : and Methusael begat Lamech .
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives : the name of the one was Adah , and the name of the other Zillah .
20 And Adah bare Jabal : he was the father of such as dwell in tents , and of such as have cattle .
21 And his brother's name was Jubal : he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ .
22 And Zillah , she also bare Tubalcain , an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron : and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah .
23 And Lamech said unto his wives , Adah and Zillah , Hear my voice ; ye wives of Lamech , hearken unto my speech : for I have slain a man to my wounding , and a young man to my hurt .
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold , truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold .
25 And Adam knew his wife again ; and she bare a son , and called his name Seth : For God , said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel , whom Cain slew .
26 And to Seth , to him also there was born a son ; and he called his name Enos : then began men to call upon the name of the LORD .