Genesis 4:1-16
Cain and Abel
4Now the man 1knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and 2gave birth to 3Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a 4man with the help of Yahweh.” 2And again, she 1gave birth to his brother Abel. aAbel was ba keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3So it happened 1in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh of the fruit of the ground. 4aAbel, on his part, also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And bYahweh had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5but afor Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So bCain became very angry, and his countenance fell. 6Then Yahweh said to Cain, “aWhy are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7“aIf you do well, 1will not your countenance be lifted up? bAnd if you do not do well, sin is lying at the door; and its desire is for you, cbut you must rule over it.” 8Then Cain 1spoke to Abel his brother; and it happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and akilled him.
9Then Yahweh said to Cain, “aWhere is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10And He said, “What have you done? aThe voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11“And now, acursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12“aWhen you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; byou will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13And Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14“Behold, You have adriven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and bI will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and it will be that cwhoever finds me will kill me.” 15So Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him asevenfold.” And Yahweh 1,bappointed a sign for Cain, so that no one who found him would strike him.