Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 The man Adam knew his wife Eve intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have given life to a man with the LORD's help."
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Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord. ”
2 She gave birth a second time to Cain's brother Abel. Abel cared for the flocks, and Cain farmed the fertile land.
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And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
3 Some time later, Cain presented an offering to the LORD from the land's crops
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In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 while Abel presented his flock's oldest offspring with their fat. The LORD looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice
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and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but didn't look favorably on Cain and his sacrifice. Cain became very angry and looked resentful.
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but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why do you look so resentful?
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The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
7 If you do the right thing, won't you be accepted? But if you don't do the right thing, sin will be waiting at the door ready to strike! It will entice you, but you must rule over it."
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If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. ”
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
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Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9 The LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's guardian?"
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Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother? ” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper? ”
10 The LORD said, "What did you do? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
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And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
11 You are now cursed from the ground that opened its mouth to take your brother's blood from your hand.
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And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you farm the fertile land, it will no longer grow anything for you, and you will become a roving nomad on the earth."
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When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. ”
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear.
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Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Now that you've driven me away from the fertile land and I am hidden from your presence, I'm about to become a roving nomad on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me."
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Behold, 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. ”
15 The LORD said to him, "It won't happen; anyone who kills Cain will be paid back seven times. The LORD put a sign on Cain so that no one who found him would assault him.
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Then 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.
16 Cain left the LORD's presence, and he settled down in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named the city after his son Enoch.
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Cain 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.
18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
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To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives, the first named Adah and the second Zillah.
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And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and own livestock.
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Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of those who play stringed and wind instruments.
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His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the ancestor of blacksmiths and all artisans of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain's sister was Naamah.
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Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice; wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words: I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me;
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Lamech 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.
24 so Cain will be paid back seven times and Lamech seventy-seven times."
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If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold. ”
25 Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth"because God has given me another child in place of Abel, whom Cain killed."
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And 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. ”
26 Seth also fathered a son and named him Enosh. At that time, people began to worship in the LORD's name.
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To 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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025