Genesis 4 (World English Bible

April 18, 2026 Evening

1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
2 Again she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
7 If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
8 Cain told Abel his brother. While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him.
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
16 Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. 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.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass 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 my words, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.
24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26 A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.

Night Devotional: The Battle at the Door

As you close your eyes tonight, reflect on the warning God gave Cain in verse 7: “Sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
The story of Cain and Abel isn’t just about a physical act of violence; it’s about the heart. God noticed Cain’s anger and the “fallen expression” on his face before any action was taken. He offered Cain a way out—an invitation to “do well” and master the emotion brewing inside.
Tonight, think about the “crouching” things in your own life—perhaps a bit of resentment, a stressful interaction from the day, or a worry about tomorrow. Like Cain, we are often faced with a choice in how we respond to disappointment or envy. But unlike Cain, we have the opportunity to bring those feelings to God in the “cool of the evening,” asking for the strength to rule over them rather than letting them rule us. Even in the face of Cain’s failure, the chapter ends with hope: “At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.”

Night Prayer

Heavenly Father,
As the day comes to an end, I step away from the work of my hands and the thoughts of my mind to rest in Your presence. Thank You for the reminder tonight that You see not just my actions, but the posture of my heart.
Lord, if I have allowed anger or comparison to crouch at my door today, I ask for Your forgiveness. Help me to rule over the impulses that lead away from peace and toward division. Wash away the frustrations of this day and replace them with the quiet assurance that I am known and loved by You.
I pray for those in my life who, like Abel, need protection, and even for those who, like Cain, are wandering and struggling with bitterness. May Your grace reach us all. Grant me a restorative sleep tonight, so that I may wake up ready to “do well” and call upon Your name tomorrow.
Amen.