1 The man knew {yada: intimate union} Eve, his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have gained a man—with the LORD {YHWH, Gracious Helper}.”
2 She again gave birth to his brother Abel {Hevel: fleeting breath}, and Abel became one who tended flocks, while Cain {Qayin: acquired one} worked the soil.
3 After many days had passed, Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering {minchah: dedicated gift} to the LORD {YHWH, Holy Worship Recipient}.
4 Abel likewise brought an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock, even their fat portions—and the LORD {YHWH, Offering Approver} looked with favor on Abel and on his offering {minchah: dedicated gift}.
5 But He {YHWH, Divine Judge} did not look with favor on Cain or on his offering {minchah: gift of devotion}. Cain became very angry, and his face sank.
6 And the LORD {YHWH, Patient Questioner} said to Cain, “Why have you become angry {charah: burning with resentment}, and why has your face dropped?”
7 If you do well, will there not be acceptance {se'et: elevation of status}? But if you do not do well, sin {chatat: moral failure} is lying in wait at the door; its desire is toward you, but you must rule over it.
8 Cain {qayin: firstborn son} spoke with Abel his brother; and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed {harag: violent deliberate killing} him.
9 Then the LORD {YHWH, Searching Judge} said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And Cain said, “I do not know. Am I the guardian {shomer: appointed protector} of my brother?”
10 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Judge} said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s bloods {dmei: collective plea} cries out to Me from the ground.”
11 And now you are cursed {arur: declared under judgment} from the ground {adamah: soil of life}, which opened its mouth to take your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it will no longer give its strength {koach: productive power} to you; you will be a wanderer {na: unsettled one} and a fugitive on the earth.
13 And Cain said to the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, “My punishment {avon: moral guilt} is too great to bear.”
14 Behold, You have driven me out today from the face of the ground, and from Your presence {panim: relational nearness} I will be hidden; I will be a wanderer {na: unsettled existence} and a fugitive in the earth, and everyone who finds me will kill me.
15 And the LORD {YHWH, Judge and Protector} said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain—vengeance will be required sevenfold {shiv'atayim: intensified retribution}.” Then the LORD placed a sign for Cain, so that anyone who found him would not strike him.
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} and lived in the land {erets: territory of exile} of Nod, east of Eden.
17 And Cain {Kayin: firstborn man} knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. He was building a city, and he called the city by the name of his son Enoch {Chanokh: initiated one}.
18 And to Enoch {chanokh: ancestral forebear} Irad was born; Irad sired {yalad: sired successor} Mehujael; Mehujael sired Methushael; and Methushael sired Lamech.
19 And Lamech took two wives {nashim: marriage partners} for himself; one he named Adah {Adah: first named wife}, and the other he named Zillah.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father {avi: cultural founder} of those who live in tents {ohel: nomadic shelters} and keep livestock.
21 And his brother was named Jubal; he was the father {avi: founding teacher} of all who play the harp {kinnor: stringed instrument} and pipe.
22 And Zillah also bore Tubal-Cain {tuval qayin: Pioneering Metallurgist}, a forger of every kind of tool in bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah {naamah: Noted Ancestress}.
23 And Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, heed my voice {koli: impassioned appeal}; wives of Lamech, give ear to my word {imrati: authoritative saying}. For I have slain a man for wounding me and a young man for bruising me.”
24 For if Cain {Qayin: recipient of divine justice} is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech {Lemekh: voice of assertion} will be avenged seventy and seven times.
25 And Adam once more knew his wife, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for God {Elohim, Restorer Of Lineage} has appointed for me another offspring {zera: promised line} in Abel’s place, because Cain killed him.
26 And to Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. Then it was begun {huchal: first initiation} to call on the name of the LORD {YHWH, Worship Initiator}.