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

Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech seventy times sevenfold.

If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold; Lemech seventy and seven fold.

If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven-fold.

For sevenfold is required for Cain, And for Lamech seventy and sevenfold.'

If seven lives are to be taken as punishment for Cain's death, seventy-seven will be taken for Lamech's.

Sevenfold vengeance will be given for Cain, but for Lamech, seventy-seven times."

Quia septuplo vindicabitur Cain, et Lemech septuagies septies.

Cain shall be avenged sevenfold. It is not my intention to relate the ravings or the dreams of every writer, nor would I have the reader to expect this from me; here and there I allude to them, though sparingly, especially if there be any color of deception; that readers, being often admonished, may learn to take heed unto themselves. Therefore, with respect to this passages which has been variously tortured, I will not record what one or another may have delivered, but will content myself with a true exposition of it. God had intended that Cain should be a horrible example to warn others against the commission of murder; and for this end had marked him with a shameful stigma. Yet lest any one should imitate his crime, He declared whosoever killed him should be punished with sevenfold severity. Lamech, impiously perverting this divine declaration, mocks its severity; for he hence takes greater license to sin, as if God had granted some singular privilege to murderers; not that he seriously thinks so, but being destitute of all sense of piety, he promises himself impunity, and in the meantime jestingly uses the name of God as an excuse: just as Dionysus did, who boasted that the gods favor sacrilegious persons, for the sake of obliterating the infamy which he had contracted. Moreover, as the number seven in Scripture designates a multitudes so sevenfold is taken for a very great increase. Such is the meaning of the declaration of Christ, I do not say that thou shalt remit the offense seven times, but seventy times seven,' (Matthew 18:22.)

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech (s) seventy and sevenfold.
(s) He mocked at God's tolerance in Cain jesting as though God would allow no one to punish him and yet give him permission to murder others.

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Which if understood of him as confessing and lamenting his sin of murder, the sense is, if Cain was so severely punished for killing one man, of how much sorer punishment am I deserving, and shall have, who have killed two persons, and that after I had seen the punishment of Cain, and yet took no warning by it? or if he that killed Cain, who slew his brother, was to be avenged sevenfold, or to seven generations, then how much more, or longer, shall he be avenged, that shall slay me, who have slain none, or however not designedly; and therefore you may be easy and quiet, your fears, either from God or man, are groundless.