English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
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Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God's help!"
2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
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Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
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Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm.
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lordhad regard for Abel and his offering,
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Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
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but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
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God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking?
7 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.”
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If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
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Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
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God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?"
10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
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God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground.
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
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From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother.
12 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.”
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You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth."
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
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Cain said to God, "My punishment is too much. I can't take it!
14 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.”
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You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lordput a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
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God told him, "No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over." God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him.
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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Cain left the presence of God and lived in No-Man's-Land, east of Eden.
17 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.
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Cain slept with his wife. She conceived and had Enoch. He then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
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Enoch had Irad, Irad had Mehujael, Mehujael had Methushael, Methushael had Lamech.
19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
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Lamech married two wives, Adah and Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
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Adah gave birth to Jabal, the ancestor of all who live in tents and herd cattle.
21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
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His brother's name was Jubal, the ancestor of all who play the lyre and flute.
22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
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Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who worked at the forge making bronze and iron tools. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.
23 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.
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Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, listen to me; you wives of Lamech, hear me out: I killed a man for wounding me, a young man who attacked me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
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If Cain is avenged seven times, for Lamech it's seventy-seven!
25 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.”
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Adam slept with his wife again. She had a son whom she named Seth. She said, "God has given me another child in place of Abel whom Cain killed."
26 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.
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And then Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. That's when men and women began praying and worshiping in the name of God.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.