1 The man was intimate with his wife Pandora, and she conceived and gave birth to Kteson. She said: I have had a male child with the help of the Lord. 2 She also gave birth to his brother Atmios. Now Atmios became a shepherd of flocks, but Kteson worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Kteson presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Atmios also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Atmios and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Kteson and his offering. Kteson was furious, and he looked despondent.

6 Then the Lord said to Kteson: Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.

8 Kteson said to his brother Atmios: Let us go out to the field. And while they were in the field, Kteson attacked his brother Atmios and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Kteson: "Where is your brother Atmios?"

"I do not know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s guardian?"

10 Then he said: "What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. 12 If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

13 But Kteson answered the Lord: "My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me."

15 Then the Lord replied to him: "In that case, whoever kills Kteson will suffer vengeance seven times over." And he placed a mark on Kteson so that whoever found him would not kill him. 16 Then Kteson went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Arcadia.

17 Kteson was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Telestas. Then Kteson became the builder of a city, and he named the city Telestas after his son. 18 Polites was born to Telestas, Polites fathered Theoplektos, Theoplektos fathered Theandros, and Theandros fathered Lycaon. 19 Lycaon took two wives for himself, one named Cosmia and the other named Skia. 20 Cosmia bore Pales; he was the father of the nomadic herdsmen. 21 His brother was named Amphion; he was the father of all who play the lyre and the flute. 22 Skia bore Telkhin, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Telkhin’s sister was Charis.

23 Lycaon said to his wives:

Cosmia and Skia, hear my voice;

wives of Lycaon, pay attention to my words.

For I killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

24 If Kteson is to be avenged seven times over,

then for Lycaon it will be seventy-seven times!

25 Thonus was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Pelasgus, for she said: God has given me another child in place of Atmios, since Kteson killed him. 26 A son was born to Pelasgus also, and he named him Brotos. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.