New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord."
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And the man had connection with Eve his wife, and she became with child and gave birth to Cain, and said, I have got a man from the Lord.
2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
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Then again she became with child and gave birth to Abel, his brother. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was 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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And after a time, Cain gave to the Lord an offering of the fruits of the earth.
4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
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And Abel gave an offering of the young lambs of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering;
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
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But in Cain and his offering he had no pleasure. And Cain was angry and his face became sad.
6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
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And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? and why is your face sad?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."
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If you do well, will you not have honour? and if you do wrong, sin is waiting at the door, desiring to have you, but do not let it be your master.
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.
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And Cain said to his brother, Let us go into the field: and when they were in the field, Cain made an attack on his brother Abel and put him to death.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
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And the Lord said to Cain, Where is your brother Abel? And he said, I have no idea: am I my brother's keeper?
10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!
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And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the earth.
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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And now you are cursed from the earth, whose mouth is open to take your brother's blood from your hand;
12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
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No longer will the earth give you her fruit as the reward of your work; you will be a wanderer in flight over the earth.
13 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!
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And Cain said, My punishment is greater than my strength.
14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me."
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You have sent me out this day from the face of the earth and from before your face; I will be a wanderer in flight over the earth, and whoever sees me will put me to death.
15 Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.
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And the Lord said, Truly, if Cain is put to death, seven lives will be taken for his. And the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one might put him to death.
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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And Cain went away from before the face of the Lord, and made his living-place in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.
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And Cain had connection with his wife and she became with child and gave birth to Enoch: and he made a town, and gave the town the name of Enoch after his son.
18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech.
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And Enoch had a son Irad: and Irad became the father of Mehujael: and Mehujael became the father of Methushael: and Methushael became the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
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And Lamech had two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock.
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And Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the father of such as are living in tents and keep cattle.
21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
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And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all players on instruments of music.
22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
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And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, who is the father of every maker of cutting instruments of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain 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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And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, give ear to my voice; you wives of Lamech, give attention to my words, for I would put a man to death for a wound, and a young man for a blow;
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
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If seven lives are to be taken as punishment for Cain's death, seventy-seven will be taken for Lamech's.
25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him."
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And Adam had connection with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name of Seth: for she said, God has given me another seed in place of Abel, whom Cain put to death.
26 To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord.
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And Seth had a son, and he gave him the name of Enosh: at this time men first made use of the name of the Lord in worship.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.