Chapter 4

4:1

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

有一日，Adam和他妻子Eve同房。Eve就怀孕，生了Cain，便说，耶和华使我得了一个男子。

4:2

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

又生了Cain的弟弟Abel。Abel是牧羊的，Cain是种地的。

4:3

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

有一日，Cain拿地里出产的果子作为供物献给耶和华。

4:4

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Abel也献上他羊群中头生的羊的脂油。耶和华看中了Abel和他的供物，

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"Firstlings"（头生的）指的是他羊群中最早出生的羊，代表最宝贵、最重要的牲畜；"fat thereof"（脂油）指的是最优质的部分，这通常被认为是献祭中最有价值的。 与亚伯的献祭相比，他的兄弟该隐献上了地里的果实，但上帝并未对该隐的献祭表现出同样的喜悦。 这段经文的重点在于：并不仅仅是献祭的内容重要，献祭者的内心动机和态度也至关重要，强调献祭或服务上帝时，人的态度、敬虔和奉献精神远比物质本身重要。亚伯献上最好的，表明了他的真诚与顺服，而这正是上帝所看重的。 我个人觉得有点问题，我认为Abel对更好资源的掌握使他的贡品看起来更上心，不过原文并没有写Cain是否也拿了最好的果子，所以也不一定。

4:5

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

只是看不中Cain和他的供物。Cain就大怒，变了脸色。

4:6

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

耶和华对Cain说，你为什么发怒呢？你为什么变了脸色呢？

4:7

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

你若行得好，岂不蒙悦纳，你若行得不好，罪就伏在门前。它必恋慕你，你却要制伏它。

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这段光看经文有点难懂。

上帝在这里提醒该隐，如果他做得好，行事正直，他的行为和供物也会像亚伯的献祭一样被接受。这暗示上帝对该隐的拒绝不是因为偏爱亚伯，而是由于该隐的行为或态度有问题。上帝鼓励该隐改正自己的行为，提醒他有机会获得上帝的喜悦。 如果他继续心存不善、行事不正，罪恶就会潜伏在他周围，准备控制他。罪在这里被拟人化为一种潜伏在门口的危险力量，随时准备引诱该隐堕落。 上帝提醒他，他有能力控制住这种罪恶的诱惑。这句话强调人对自己的行为和选择负有责任，罪虽然可能潜伏在每个人身边，但人有自由意志，可以选择去掌控它。

4:8

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Cain与他兄弟Abel说话，二人正在田间。Cain起来打他弟弟Abel，把他杀了。

4:9

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

耶和华对Cain说，你弟弟Abel在哪里？他说，我不知道，我难道是看守我弟弟的吗？

4:10

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

耶和华说，你做了什么事呢？你弟弟的血从地里向我哀告。

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这是一个非常生动的比喻，表明亚伯的死不仅仅是一个静默的事件，而是带有深刻的道德和精神意义。亚伯的血象征着他被无辜杀害的生命，而他的“血的声音”则象征着他无声的控诉。这暗示着暴力和不公的行为在上帝面前无法被掩盖，罪恶之事终究会被揭露和审判。 地在此处有象征意义。地不仅是埋葬亚伯的地方，也暗示着大地见证了这一不公的暴行，并且这血的呼声已经达到上帝的耳中。这表明罪恶不仅在人类社会中产生影响，而且在整个创造的秩序中都留下了痕迹。上帝对正义的追求不可避免，暴力行为的后果必定会显现出来。

4:11

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

现在你必从地上受诅咒，它已经开口从你手里接受了你弟弟的血；

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这是上帝对该隐的宣判，隐与大地的关系被破坏。大地是农作物生长的来源，而作为农夫的该隐依赖大地谋生。

4:12

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

你种地，地不再给你效力。你必流离飘荡在地上。

4:13

And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Cain对耶和华说，我的刑罚太重，过于我所能当的。

4:14

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

你如今驱逐我离开这地，以致不见你面。我必流离飘荡在地上，凡遇见我的必杀我。

4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

耶和华对他说，凡杀Cain的，必遭报七倍。耶和华就给Cain立一个记号，免得人遇见他就杀他。

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尽管该隐因杀害亚伯而受到了诅咒和惩罚，但上帝并没有放任他被其他人杀害（以暴力方式惩罚）。设立保护的记号和警告“七倍的报应”显示上帝对生命的珍视，同时也是对报复和暴力进一步蔓延的阻止。这体现了上帝对人类的怜悯，即便犯了罪，也给了人机会去承受后果并继续生活。

4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

于是Cain离开耶和华的面，去住在Eden东边的Nod之地。

4:17

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Cain与他妻子同房，他妻子就怀孕，生了Enoch。Cain建造了一座城，就按着他儿子的名，将那城叫做Enoch。

4:18

And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

Enoch生Irad，Irad生Mehujael，Mehujael生Methusael，Methusael生Lamech。

4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

Lamech娶了两个妻，一个叫Adah，一个叫Zillah。

4:20

And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

Adah生Jabal，Jabal就是住帐篷，牧养牲畜之人的祖师。

4:21

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Jabal的弟弟叫Jubal。他是一切弹琴吹箫之人的祖师。

4:22

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

Zillah又生了Tubalcain。他是打造各样铜铁利器的人的祖师。Tubalcain的妹妹是Naamah。

4:23

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

拉麦对他的妻子说：亚大和洗拉啊，听我的声音。我杀死一个人，因他伤我；杀死一个少年人，因他打我。

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Lamech在这里承认自己杀了两个人，一个是成年男子，一个是少年。拉麦提到他杀人是因为自己受了伤，表明这是出于某种自卫或报复。然而，圣经并没有给出更多关于这个事件的背景或细节。

4:24

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

若杀该隐，必遭报七倍，拉麦必遭报七十七倍。

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这段经文可以被理解为拉麦通过夸张的言辞表达了暴力和报复的加剧。无论是炫耀、恐惧，还是一种对暴力的反思，拉麦的这句话揭示了该隐后代中暴力行为的进一步演变。它不仅回顾了该隐的故事，还预示了人类社会中的暴力和复仇心理可能愈演愈烈的趋势。

4:25

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Adam又与他妻子同房，她就生了一个儿子，起名叫Seth，意思是，神给了我一个儿子代替Abel，因为Cain杀了他。

4:26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Seth也生了一个儿子，起名叫Enos。那时候，人才求告耶和华的名。

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这标志着人类历史中的一个重要时刻：敬拜和呼求上帝的正式开始。人类开始意识到自己对上帝的依赖，转向他寻求指引和力量。