New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
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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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."
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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She gave birth a second time to Cain's brother Abel. Abel cared for the flocks, and Cain farmed the fertile land.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
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Some time later, Cain presented an offering to the LORD from the land's crops
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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while Abel presented his flock's oldest offspring with their fat. The LORD looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice
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 didn't look favorably on Cain and his sacrifice. Cain became very angry and looked resentful.
6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
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The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why do you look so resentful?
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 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."
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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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.
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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The LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's guardian?"
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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The LORD said, "What did you do? The voice of your brother's blood is crying 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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You are now cursed from the ground that opened its mouth 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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When you farm the fertile land, it will no longer grow anything for you, and you will become a roving nomad on the earth."
13 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!
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Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear.
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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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."
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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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.
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 LORD's presence, and he settled down in the land of Nod, 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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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.
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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Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
19 Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
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Lamech took two wives, the first named Adah and the second Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock.
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Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and own livestock.
21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
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His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of those who play stringed and wind instruments.
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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Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the ancestor of blacksmiths and all artisans of bronze and iron. 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 my voice; wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words: I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me;
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
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so Cain will be paid back seven times and Lamech seventy-seven times."
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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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."
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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Seth also fathered a son and named him Enosh. At that time, people began to worship in the LORD's name.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible