Genesis 4:12

When you try to cultivate ¹  the ground it will no longer yield ²  its best ³  for you. You will be a homeless wanderer ⁴  on the earth.”

When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

"When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."

No longer will it yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, constantly wandering from place to place."

You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth."

No longer will the earth give you her fruit as the reward of your work; you will be a wanderer in flight over the earth.

When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."

"When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."

When you try to cultivate ¹  the ground it will no longer yield ²  its best ³  for you. You will be a homeless wanderer ⁴  on the earth.”

¹ tn Heb “work.”

² tn Heb “it will not again (תֹסֵף, tosef) give (תֵּת, tet),” meaning the ground will no longer yield. In translation the infinitive becomes the main verb, and the imperfect verb form becomes adverbial.

³ tn Heb “its strength.”

⁴ tn Two similar sounding synonyms are used here: נָע וָנָד (na’ vanad, “a wanderer and a fugitive”). This juxtaposition of synonyms emphasizes the single idea. In translation one can serve as the main description, the other as a modifier. Other translation options include “a wandering fugitive” and a “ceaseless wanderer” (cf. NIV).