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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 4

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Now the man knew his wife Chava, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gained a male child with the help of Hashem.”

v'-ha-A-dam ya-DA ayt-kha-VA eesh-TO va-TA-har va-TAY-led ayt-KAYN va-TO-mer ka-NEE-tee eesh ayt a-do-NAI

אוְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

2She then bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the soil.

va-TOS-sef la-LE-det et a-KHEEV et ha-VEL, va-Y'-hee ha-VEL ro-EH tso-AN, v'-KA-yin ha-YAH o-VED a-da-MAH

בוַתֹּ֣סֶף לָלֶ֔דֶת אֶת־אָחִ֖יו אֶת־הָ֑בֶל וַֽיְהִי־הֶ֙בֶל֙ רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן וְקַ֕יִן הָיָ֖ה עֹבֵ֥ד אֲדָמָֽה׃

3In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to Hashem from the fruit of the soil;

vai-YA-hee mi-KETZ ya-MEEM, va-ya-VAY KAYN mi-p'-REE ha-a-da-MAH, min-KHAH la-a-do-NAI.

גוַֽיְהִ֖י מִקֵּ֣ץ יָמִ֑ים וַיָּבֵ֨א קַ֜יִן מִפְּרִ֧י הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה מִנְחָ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

4and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the firstlings of his flock. Hashem paid heed to Abel and his offering,

v'-he-VEL he-VEE gam-HU mi-b'-kho-ROT tzo-NO u-m'-khel-ve-HEN va-YI-sha a-do-NAI el he-VEL v'-el-mi-kha-TO

דוְהֶ֨בֶל הֵבִ֥יא גַם־ה֛וּא מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן וַיִּ֣שַׁע יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־הֶ֖בֶל וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֽוֹ׃

5but to Cain and his offering He paid no heed. Cain was much distressed and his face fell.

v'-el-KAYN v'-el-min-KHA-to lo sha-AH va-YI-khar l'-KAYN m'-OD va-yi-p'-LU pa-NAV

הוְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָת֖וֹ לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֙יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃

6And Hashem said to Cain, “Why are you distressed, And why is your face fallen?

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el ka-YIN, la-MA kha-RA la-KH, v'-la-MA na-F'-LU fa-NE-kha

ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־קָ֑יִן לָ֚מָּה חָ֣רָה לָ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה נָפְל֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃

7Surely, if you do right, There is uplift. But if you do not do right Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master.”

ha-LO im-TEET-eiv s'-ET v'-im lo TEET-eiv la-pe-TACH cha-TAT ro-VETZ v'-E-le-KHA t'-shu-KA-to v'-a-TAH tim-SHAL-BO

זהֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּמְשׇׁל־בּֽוֹ׃

8Cain said to his brother Abel and when they were in the field, Cain set upon his brother Abel and killed him.

vai-YO-mer KAYN el HE-vel a-KHEE-v, vai-HI, bi-h'-yo-TAM ba-SA-deh, vai-YA-kom KAYN el HE-vel a-KHEE-v, vai-YA-har-GAY-hu

חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יו וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּהְיוֹתָ֣ם בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיָּ֥קׇם קַ֛יִן אֶל־הֶ֥בֶל אָחִ֖יו וַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃

9Hashem said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?”

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el KAI-yin, AY he-VAYL a-KHEE-kha? va-YO-mer, lo ya-DA-tee, ha-SHO-mer a-KHEE a-NO-khee.

טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃

10Then He said, “What have you done? Hark, your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground!

vai-YO-mer meh a-SEE-ta, KOL d'-MEI a-KHEE-kha tzo-a-KEEM e-LAI min ha-a-da-MAH

יוַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃

11Therefore, you shall be more cursed than the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

v'-a-TAH a-RUR a-TAH min ha-a-da-MAH a-SHER patz-TAH et-PI-ha la-ka-KHAT et d'-MEI a-KHEE-KHA mi-YA-de-KHA

יאוְעַתָּ֖ה אָר֣וּר אָ֑תָּה מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּצְתָ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־דְּמֵ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃

12If you till the soil, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall become a ceaseless wanderer on earth.”

KEE ta-a-VOD et HA-a-da-MAH lo to-SAYF tayt ko-KHAH LAKH NA va-NAD tih-YEH va-A-retz

יבכִּ֤י תַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹֽא־תֹסֵ֥ף תֵּת־כֹּחָ֖הּ לָ֑ךְ נָ֥ע וָנָ֖ד תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה בָאָֽרֶץ׃

 4:12   You shall become a ceaseless wanderer on earth

The Hebrew for ‘ceaseless wanderer’ in this verse is na v’nad (נע ונד). Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch distinguishes the word na (נע) from nad (נד). Na refers to a wanderer who can find no physical resting place on Earth, whereas a nad is a wanderer whose connection to mankind has been severed. Cain’s punishment isolated him from the land as well as from all of mankind; he was cursed with an inability to find a homeland or a society, and subsequently his sin was too much to bear. The privilege of living in a homeland among a society of people who share a common lineage is no small matter. The return of Jewish sovereignty to its biblical homeland in our time, after thousands of years of exile, is truly a mark of God’s hand in this world.

13Cain said to Hashem, “My punishment is too great to bear!

vai-YO-mer KAYN el a-do-NAI, ga-DOL a-VO-NEE mi-n'-so-A

יגוַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל עֲוֺנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃*(בספרי ספרד ואשכנז מִנְּשֽׂוֹא)

14Since You have banished me this day from the soil, and I must avoid Your presence and become a restless wanderer on earth—anyone who meets me may kill me!”

HEN GE-rash-TA o-TI ha-YOM me-AL pe-NEI ha-a-DA-ma, u-mi-PA-ne-KHA e-SA-ter, v'-ha-YI-ti NA va-NA-d ba-A-retz, v'-ha-YA kol-mo-tz'-I ya-HAR-ge-NI.

ידהֵן֩ גֵּרַ֨שְׁתָּ אֹתִ֜י הַיּ֗וֹם מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה וּמִפָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶסָּתֵ֑ר וְהָיִ֜יתִי נָ֤ע וָנָד֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה כׇל־מֹצְאִ֖י יַֽהַרְגֵֽנִי׃

15Hashem said to him, “I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken on him.” And Hashem put a mark on Cain, lest anyone who met him should kill him.

vai-YO-mer LO a-do-NAI la-KHEN, kol ho-RAYG KAYN shiv-a-TA-yim yu-KAM, va-YA-sem a-do-NAI l'-KAYN OT l'-vil-TEE ha-KOT o-TO kol motz-O

טווַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יְהֹוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כׇּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֤ה לְקַ֙יִן֙ א֔וֹת לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכּוֹת־אֹת֖וֹ כׇּל־מֹצְאֽוֹ׃

16Cain left the presence of Hashem and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

vai-YAY-tzay KAYN mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI, vai-YAY-shev b'-E-retz-NOD kid-MAT-e-DEN

טזוַיֵּ֥צֵא קַ֖יִן מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־נ֖וֹד קִדְמַת־עֵֽדֶן׃

17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Chanoch. And he then founded a city, and named the city after his son Chanoch.

vai-YAY-da KAYN et ish-TO, va-TA-har va-TAY-led et-KHA-nokh, vai-HI bo-NEH ir, vai-yik-RA shem ha-IR k'-shem b'-NO KHA-nokh

יזוַיֵּ֤דַע קַ֙יִן֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־חֲנ֑וֹךְ וַֽיְהִי֙ בֹּ֣נֶה עִ֔יר וַיִּקְרָא֙ שֵׁ֣ם הָעִ֔יר כְּשֵׁ֖ם בְּנ֥וֹ חֲנֽוֹךְ׃

18To Chanoch was born Irad, and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methusael, and Methusael begot Lemech.

vai-yi-va-LED la-kha-NOCH et ee-RAD, v'-ee-RAD ya-LAD et m'-khu-YA-el, u-m'-khi-YA-el ya-LAD et m'-tu-sha-EL, u-m'-tu-sha-EL ya-LAD et la-MEKH

יחוַיִּוָּלֵ֤ד לַֽחֲנוֹךְ֙ אֶת־עִירָ֔ד וְעִירָ֕ד יָלַ֖ד אֶת־מְחֽוּיָאֵ֑ל וּמְחִיָּיאֵ֗ל יָלַד֙ אֶת־מְת֣וּשָׁאֵ֔ל וּמְתוּשָׁאֵ֖ל יָלַ֥ד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ׃

19Lemech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.

vai-YI-kakh-LO le-MEKH sh'-TEI na-SHEEM, SHEM ha-a-KHAT a-DAH, v'-SHEM ha-SHE-nee-TZI-lah

יטוַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֥וֹ לֶ֖מֶךְ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ עָדָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית צִלָּֽה׃

20Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who dwell in tents and amidst herds.

va-TEL-ed a-DAH et ya-BAL, HU ha-YAH a-VEE yo-SHEV o-HEL u-mik-NEH

כוַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃

21And the name of his brother was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the pipe.

v'-SHEM a-KHEE-yu-VAL, HU ha-YAH a-VEE kol-TO-fes ki-NOR v'-u-GAV

כאוְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יוּבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י כׇּל־תֹּפֵ֥שׂ כִּנּ֖וֹר וְעוּגָֽב׃

22As for Zillah, she bore Tubal-cain, who forged all implements of copper and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

v'-tzi-LAH gam-hi ya-l'-DAH et tu-VAL ka-YIN lo-TESH kol-cho-RESH ne-KHO-shet u-var-ZEL va-a-KHOT tu-VAL-ka-YIN na-a-MAH

כבוְצִלָּ֣ה גַם־הִ֗וא יָֽלְדָה֙ אֶת־תּ֣וּבַל קַ֔יִן לֹטֵ֕שׁ כׇּל־חֹרֵ֥שׁ נְחֹ֖שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל וַֽאֲח֥וֹת תּֽוּבַל־קַ֖יִן נַֽעֲמָֽה׃

23And Lemech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; O wives of Lemech, give ear to my speech. I have slain a man for wounding me, a lad for bruising me.

vai-YO-mer le-MEKH l'-na-SHA-vay, a-DAH v'-tsi-LAH, sh'-ma-AN ko-LEE, n'-SHAY le-MEKH ha-a-ZE-nah im-RA-tee, KEE eesh ha-RAK-tee l'-fitz-EE, v'-YE-led l'-kha-bu-RA-tee

כגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לֶ֜מֶךְ לְנָשָׁ֗יו עָדָ֤ה וְצִלָּה֙ שְׁמַ֣עַן קוֹלִ֔י נְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֔מֶךְ הַאְזֵ֖נָּה אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּ֣י אִ֤ישׁ הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙ לְפִצְעִ֔י וְיֶ֖לֶד לְחַבֻּרָתִֽי׃

24If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lemech seventy-sevenfold.”

ki shiv-a-ta-yim yu-kam-ka-YIN v'-le-MEKH shiv-EEM v'-shiv-a

כדכִּ֥י שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקַּם־קָ֑יִן וְלֶ֖מֶךְ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃

25Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Shet, meaning, “Hashem has provided me with another offspring in place of Abel,” for Cain had killed him.

vai-YAY-da a-DAM OD et i-SHO va-TAY-led BEN va-tik-RA et SHE-mo SHAYT, KEE SHAT-LEE e-lo-HEEM ZE-ra a-KHER ta-KHAT HE-vel, KEE ha-RA-go KAYN

כהוַיֵּ֨דַע אָדָ֥ם עוֹד֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁ֑ת כִּ֣י שָֽׁת־לִ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ זֶ֣רַע אַחֵ֔ר תַּ֣חַת הֶ֔בֶל כִּ֥י הֲרָג֖וֹ קָֽיִן׃

26And to Shet, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh. It was then that men began to invoke Hashem by name.

u-l'-SHAYT gam-HU yu-LAD-BEN va-yik-RA et-SHE-mo e-NOSh az HU-khal lik-RO b'-SHEM a-do-NAI.

כווּלְשֵׁ֤ת גַּם־הוּא֙ יֻלַּד־בֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱנ֑וֹשׁ אָ֣ז הוּחַ֔ל לִקְרֹ֖א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃