Genesis 4:9-15

English Standard Version

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, ^(A)“I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” ¹⁰ And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood ^(B)is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now ^(C)you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” ¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My ^(D)punishment is greater than I can bear.^{[a] 14} Behold, ^(E)you have driven me today away from the ground, and ^(F)from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, ^(G)and whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him ^(H)sevenfold.” And the Lord ^(I)put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.