Day 2: Genesis 4-7; Psalms 3, 4; Proverbs 1:6–10; Matthew 2

Genesis 4:1 – 7:24

Cain Kills Abel

4

​¹ Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man through God.” ² Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a shepherd of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ Now in the process of time Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground. ⁴ Abel also brought a sacrifice from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices. So Cain was extremely sorrowful, and his countenance fell. ⁶ So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you extremely sorrowful? And why has your countenance fallen? ⁷ Did you not sin, even though you brought it rightly, but did not divide it rightly? Be still; his recourse shall be to you; and you shall rule over him.”

⁸ Now 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 killed him. ⁹ Then God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰ Thus God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. ¹¹ So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You will be groaning and trembling on the earth.” ¹³ Then Cain said to the Lord, “My guilt is too great to be forgiven! ¹⁴ Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be groaning and trembling on the earth. Then it will happen if anyone finds me, he will kill me.” ¹⁵ So the Lord God said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” Thus the Lord set a sign on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. ¹⁶ Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod opposite Eden.

  Cain’s Family

¹⁷ And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. ¹⁸ To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methushael begot Lamech. ¹⁹ Then Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. ²⁰ So Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. ²¹ His brother’s name was Jubal. He is the one who invented the psaltery and harp. ²² As for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, a smith and a manufacturer of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. ²³ Then Lamech said to his wives Adah and Zillah:

“Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech,

And listen carefully to my words,

Because I killed a man for wounding me

And a young man for hurting me.

²⁴ If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

²⁵ Again Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Seth, saying, “God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” ²⁶ As for Seth, to him also a son was born. He named him Enosh, and he hoped in the Lord God and called upon His name.

The Descendants of Adam

5

​¹ This is the book of the genesis of mankind in the day God made Adam, whom He made in God’s image. ² He made them male and female, and blessed them; and the day He made them He called his name Adam. ³ Now Adam lived two hundred and thirty years, and begot a son according to his form and image, and named him Seth. ⁴ After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were seven hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters. ⁵ So all the days Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

⁶ Now Seth lived two hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. ⁷ After he begot Enosh, Seth lived seven hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. ⁸ So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

⁹ Now Enosh lived one hundred and ninety years, and begot Cainan. ¹⁰ After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived seven hundred and fifteen years, and begot sons and daughters. ¹¹ So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

¹² Now Cainan lived one hundred and seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. ¹³ After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived seven hundred and forty years, and begot sons and daughters. ¹⁴ So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

¹⁵ Now Mahalalel lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Jared. ¹⁶ After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived seven hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. ¹⁷ So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

¹⁸ Now Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. ¹⁹ After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. ²⁰ So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

²¹ Now Enoch lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. ²² After he begot Methuselah, Enoch was well-pleasing to God for two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. ²³ So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴ Thus Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, for God translated him.

²⁵ Now Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. ²⁶ After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and begot sons and daughters. ²⁷ So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.

²⁸ Now Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-eight years, and begot a son. ²⁹ And he called his name Noah, saying, “He will give us rest from our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground the Lord God cursed.” ³⁰ After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and sixty-five years, and had sons and daughters. ³¹ So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and fifty-three years, and he died.

  ³² And Noah was five hundred years old, and he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Man’s Wickedness

6

​¹ Now it came to pass that men began to exist in great numbers on the earth, and daughters were born to them. ² So when the sons of God saw the daughters of men were beautiful, they took wives for themselves of all they chose. ³ Then the Lord God said, “My Spirit shall not remain with these people forever, for they are flesh. So their days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” ⁴ Now there were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

⁵ Then the Lord God saw man’s wickedness, that it was great in the earth, and every intent of the thoughts within his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ So God was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and He thought this over. ⁷ Then God said, “I will blot out man whom I created from the face of the earth, from man to cattle, and from the creeping things to the birds of heaven, for I am grieved I made them.” ⁸ But Noah found grace in the presence of the Lord God.

Righteous Noah Builds the Ark

⁹ This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, who was perfect in his generation and well-pleasing to God. ¹⁰ So Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt before God and filled with unrighteousness. ¹² Thus the Lord God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh corrupted their way on the earth. ¹³ Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ¹⁴ Make yourself an ark of square timber. You shall make the ark in compartments, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. ¹⁵ Thus you shall make the ark: three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in height. ¹⁶ Now when you assemble the ark, you shall gradually finish it up to a cubit at the top, and set the door in its side. You shall make the ark with lower, second, and third stories. ¹⁷ And behold, I am bringing a flood of water on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life. Whatever is on the earth shall die. ¹⁸ But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ From every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. ²⁰ Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing on the earth after its kind, two of every kind, they will enter into the ark with you, male and female, to keep them alive. ²¹ You shall also take for yourself all kinds of food to eat, and you shall gather it both for yourself and for them.” ²² Thus Noah did according to all the Lord God commanded him, so he did.

The Flood

7

​¹ Then the Lord God said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your family, because I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation. ² You shall also bring with you into the ark the clean cattle by sevens, male and female; and the unclean cattle by twos, male and female; ³ and the clean birds of heaven by twos, male and female, to keep seed alive on the face of all the earth. ⁴ For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out from the face of the earth every living thing I made.” ⁵ So Noah did all the Lord God commanded him.

  ⁶ Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. ⁷ Then Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, entered the ark because of the flood waters. ⁸ Also the clean and unclean birds, the clean and unclean cattle, and everything that creeps on the earth, ⁹ entered with Noah into the ark, two by two, male and female, as God commanded him. ¹⁰ Then it came to pass after seven days, the waters of the flood came upon the earth. ¹¹ In the six-hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the floodgates of heaven were opened. ¹² Then it rained on the earth forty days and forty nights. ¹³ On the very same day Noah and his wife, his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives entered the ark. ¹⁴ Also, all the wild animals after their kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing moving upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, ¹⁵ entered the ark with Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. ¹⁶ So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God commanded him. Then the Lord God shut him in the ark.

¹⁷ Now the flood was on the earth forty days and forty nights. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. ¹⁸ So the waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. ¹⁹ The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. ²⁰ The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and covered all the high mountains. ²¹ And all flesh died that moves on the earth: birds and cattle, wild animals, and every creeping thing that moves on the earth, and every man. ²² Thus all things in whose nostrils was the breath of life, and everything on dry land, died. ²³ So He blotted out all living things on the face of the earth: both man and cattle, creeping things and the birds of heaven. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark remained alive. ²⁴ Now the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

Psalms 3

¹ A psalm by David, when he fled from the face of his son, Absalom.

² O Lord, why do those who afflict me multiply?

Many are those who rise up against me.

³ Many are those who say to my soul,

“There is no salvation for him in his God.”

(Pause)

⁴ But You, O Lord, are my protector,

My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

⁵ I cried to the Lord with my voice,

And He heard me from His holy hill.

(Pause)

⁶ I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord will help me.

⁷ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who set themselves against me all around.

⁸ Arise, O Lord, and save me, O my God,

For You struck all those who were foolishly at enmity with me;

You broke the teeth of sinners.

⁹ Salvation is of the Lord,

And Your blessing is upon Your people.

Psalms 4

​¹ For the End; in psalms; an ode by David.

² You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness.

You strengthened my heart when I was in distress;

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

³ How long, O you sons of men,

Will you be slow of heart?

Why do you love vain things

And seek after lies?

⁴ Know that the Lord made His Holy One wondrous;

The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.

⁵ Be angry, and do not sin;

Have remorse upon your beds

For what you say in your hearts.

(Pause)

⁶ Offer the sacrifice of righteousness,

And hope in the Lord.

⁷ There are many who say, “Who will show us good things?”

O Lord, the light of Your face was stamped upon us.

⁸ You put gladness in my heart;

From their season of wheat, wine, and oil they were multiplied.

⁹ I will both sleep and rest in peace,

For You alone, O Lord, cause me to dwell in hope.

Proverbs 1:6-10

⁶ He will understand both a parable and a hidden saying,

Both wise words and riddles.

⁷ The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,

And there is good understanding in all who practice it;

⁸ And godliness toward God is the beginning of perception,

But the ungodly despise wisdom and instruction.

⁹ Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,

And do not reject the laws of your mother.

¹⁰ For you will receive a crown of grace on your head

And a gold chain around your neck.

Matthew 2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Massacre of the Innocents

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more.”

The Home in Nazareth

¹⁹ Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

²⁰ saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”

²¹ Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

²³ And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”