Genesis 4
Blood That Cries from the Ground
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Cain and Abel
4:1Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain. She said, “I have acquired a human through God.”
4:2She bore again, his brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd of sheep, while Cain worked the earth.
4:3After some days Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the earth.
4:4Abel also brought from the firstborn of his sheep and from their fat portions. God looked upon Abel and his gifts,
4:5but He paid no attention to Cain and his sacrifices. Cain was deeply grieved, and his face fell.
4:6The Lord God said to Cain, “Why have you become deeply grieved, and why has your face fallen?
4:7If you offer correctly but do not divide correctly, have you not sinned? Be still; his turning is toward you, and you shall rule over him.”
4:8Cain said to Abel his brother, “Let us go out into the plain.” While they were in the plain, Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him.
Cain’s Judgement
4:9God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
4:10God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the earth.
4:11Now you are cursed from the earth, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
4:12For you will work the earth, and it will no longer give you its strength. You shall be groaning and trembling upon the earth.”
4:13Cain said to the Lord, “My guilt is too great for me to be forgiven.
4:14If You drive me today from the face of the earth, I shall be hidden from Your face and shall be groaning and trembling upon the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
4:15The Lord God said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will discharge seven acts of vengeance.” The Lord God set a sign for Cain, so that whoever found him would not kill him.
4:16Cain went out from the presence of God and settled in the land of Nod, opposite Eden.
Genealogy of Cain
4:17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. He was building a city and named the city after his son Enoch.
4:18To Enoch was born Gaidad; Gaidad begat Maiel, Maiel begat Mathousala, and Mathousala begat Lamech.
4:19Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.
4:20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of livestock breeders who dwell in tents.
4:21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the one who introduced the harp and lyre.
4:22Zillah also bore Tubal; he was a hammering smith of bronze and iron. Tubal’s sister was Naamah.
4:23Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, give ear to my words. I have killed a man for a wound to me, a young man for a bruise to me.
4:24For vengeance has been exacted seven times from Cain, but from Lamech seventy times seven.”
Birth of Seth
4:25Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has raised up another offspring for me in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.”
4:26A son was born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. He hoped to call upon the name of the Lord God.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.