Cain and Abel

4 The man Adam knew his wife Eve intimately. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have given life to^[a] a man with the Lord’s help.” ² She gave birth a second time to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel cared for the flocks, and Cain farmed the fertile land.

³ Some time later, Cain presented an offering to the Lord from the land’s crops ⁴ while Abel presented his flock’s oldest offspring with their fat. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice ⁵ but didn’t look favorably on Cain and his sacrifice. Cain became very angry and looked resentful. ⁶ The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why do you look so resentful? ⁷ If you do the right thing, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do the right thing, sin will be waiting at the door ready to strike! It will entice you, but you must rule over it.”

⁴ By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.