| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” | 1Adam 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." |
| 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. | 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. |
| 3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, | 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. |
| 4and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, | 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, |
| 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. | 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. |
| 6The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? | 6Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? |
| 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” | 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." |
| 8Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. | 8Now 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. |
| 9Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” | 9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" |
| 10And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. | 10The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. |
| 11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. | 11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. |
| 12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” | 12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." |
| 13Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. | 13Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. |
| 14Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” | 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." |
| 15Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. | 15But 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. |
| 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. | 16So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. |
| 17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. | 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. |
| 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. | 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. |
| 19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. | 19Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. |
| 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. | 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 all those who play the lyre and pipe. | 21His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. |
| 22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. | 22Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah. |
| 23Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. | 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. |
| 24If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” | 24If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times." |
| 25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” | 25Adam 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." |
| 26To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. | 26Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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