Genesis 4 · Parashat Bereshit

And the man knew Ḥavva his wife; and she conceived, and bore Qayin saying, I have acquired a manchild from the Lord.

And she again bore, his brother Hevel. And Hevel was a keeper of sheep, but Qayin was a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Qayin brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord.

And Hevel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat parts thereof. And the Lord had respect to Hevel and to his offering:

but to Qayin and to his offering He had not respect. And Qayin was very angry, and his face fell.

And the Lord said to Qayin, Why art thou angry? and why art thou crestfallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin crouches at the door, and to thee shall be his desire. Yet thou mayst rule over him.

And Qayin talked with Hevel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Qayin rose up against Hevel his brother, and slew him.

And the Lord said to Qayin, Where is Hevel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?

And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground.

And now cursed art thou from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield to thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be on the earth.

And Qayin said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face I shall be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that anyone that finds me shall slay me.

And the Lord said to him, Therefore whoever slays Qayin, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Qayin, lest any finding him should smite him.

And Qayin went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, to the east of ῾Eden.

And Qayin knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Ḥanokh: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Ḥanokh.

And to Ḥanokh was born ῾Irad: and ῾Irad begot Meĥuya᾽el: and Meĥiyya᾽el begot Metusha᾽el: and Metusha᾽el begot Lemekh.

And Lemekh took to him two wives: the name of the one was ῾Ada, and the name of the other Żilla.

And ῾Ada bore Yaval: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

And his brother’s name was Yuval: he was the father of all such as handle the lyre and pipe.

And Żilla, she also bore Tuval-qayin, forger of every sharp instrument in brass and iron: and the sister of Tuval-qayin was Na῾ama.

And Lemekh said to his wives, ῾Ada and Żilla, Hear my voice; wives of Lemekh, hearken to my speech: for I have slain a man for wounding me, and a young man for my hurt.

If Qayin shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemekh seventy and sevenfold.

And Adam (Man) knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Shet: For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Hevel whom Qayin slew.

And to Shet, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh: then men began to call upon the Lord by name.