Cain and Abel

4 Adam^[a] made love to his wife^(A) Eve,^(B) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.^[b](C) She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth^[c] a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.^(D)

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.^{(E) 3} In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering^(F) to the Lord.^{(G) 4} And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions^(H) from some of the firstborn of his flock.^(I) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,^{(J) 5} but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?^(K) Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;^(L) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.^(M)”

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(A) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(B) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(C) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(D) where the fire never goes out.^{(E) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(F) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(G) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(H) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(I) 48} where