Genesis, A Royal Epic. Loren R. Fisher

you do well

      [And you] are upbeat,

      Or you don’t do well,

      [And so in this case],

      Sin is the demon,37

      [Who is] at the door?

      His desire is for you,

      But you will rule him.”38

      8 Cain spoke39 against Abel, his brother;

      when they were in the field,

      Cain rose up against Abel, his brother;

      he killed him.

      9 Yahweh said to Cain:

      “Where is Abel your brother?”

      He said to him:

      “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

      10 He said:

      “What have you done?

      The voice of the blood of your brother is crying to me from

       the ground,

      11 and now you are cursed from the ground

      that has opened its mouth

      to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

      12 When you till the ground,

      it will never again give its strength to you;

      a vagrant and a wanderer (nad) you shall be on the earth.”

      13 Cain said to Yahweh:

      “My iniquity is too great to be lifted up.

      14 It is clear;

      this day you drove me from the face of the ground,

      and from your face I shall hide.

      I shall be a vagrant and a wanderer (nad) on earth,

      for anyone who finds me will kill me.”

      15 Yahweh said to him:

      “Therefore, anyone who kills Cain

      shall receive sevenfold vengeance.”

      Yahweh put a mark on Cain,

      so that no one who found him would strike him.

      16 Cain went out from the presence of Yahweh;

      he settled in the land of Nod,40 east of Eden.

      17 Cain knew his wife.

      She conceived; she bore Enoch.

      He41 was the builder of a city.

      He called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

      18 To Enoch was born Irad.

      Irad fathered Mehujael.

      Mehujael fathered Methushael.

      Methushael fathered Lamech.

      19 Lamech took for himself two wives.

      The name of the one was Adah,

      and the name of the other was Zillah.

      20 Adah bore Jabal.

      He was the “father”42 of those who dwell with tents and herds.

      21 The name of his brother was Jubal.

      He was the “father” of all who are skilled with lyre and pipe.

      22 Also, Zillah bore Tubal-Cain,

      the master craftsman of all who are workers with copper and iron

      (and the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah).

      23 Lamech said to his wives:

      “Adah and Zillah, listen to me;43

      Wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech.

      Yes,44 I have slain a man for my wounds—

      And even a young child for my blows.

      24 Yes, Cain will be avenged sevenfold,

      But, Lamech seventy and seven.”

      25 Adam45 knew his wife again.

      She bore a son.

      She called forth his name, “Seth,” because, [she continued,]46

      “Elohim set47 for me another offspring in the place of Abel,

      for his killer was Cain.”

      26 Also to Seth, a son was born.

      He called forth his name, “Enosh.”48

      Then it was begun: calling on Yahweh by name.49

      5:1a This is the document of the stories of Adam.

      1b When Elohim was forming human beings (’adam),

      in the likeness of Elohim he made them;

      2 male and female he formed them.

      He blessed them; he called forth their name, “Adam,”50

      when they were formed.51

      3 Adam52 lived a hundred and thirty years;

      he fathered [a son], in his likeness after his image;

      he called forth his name, “Seth.”

      4 The days of Adam were, after he fathered Seth,

      eight hundred years. He fathered sons and daughters.

      5 When all the days of Adam, that he lived,

      equaled nine hundred and thirty years, he died.

      6 Seth lived a hundred and five years; he fathered Enosh.

      7 Seth lived, after he fathered Enosh,

      eight hundred and seven years.

      He fathered sons and daughters.

      8 When all the days of Seth

      equaled nine hundred and twelve years, he died.

      9 Enosh lived ninety years; he fathered Kenan.

      10 Enosh lived, after he fathered Kenan,

      eight hundred and fifteen years.

      He fathered sons and daughters.

      11 When all the days of Enosh

      equaled nine hundred and five years, he died.

      12 Kenan lived seventy years; he fathered Mahalalel.

      13 Kenan lived, after he fathered Mahalalel,

      eight hundred and forty years.

      He fathered sons and daughters.

      14 When all the days of Kenan

      equaled nine hundred and ten years, he died.

      15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years; he fathered Jared.

      16 Mahalalel lived, after he fathered Jared,

      eight hundred and thirty years.

      He fathered sons and daughters.

      17 When all the days of Mahalalel

      equaled eight hundred and ninety-five years, he died.

      18 Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two years; he fathered Enoch.

      19 Jared lived, after he fathered Enoch,

      eight hundred years.

      He fathered sons and daughters.

      20 When all the days of Jared

      equaled nine hundred and sixty-two years, he died.

      21 Enoch lived sixty-five years;