Genesis 4:1-12

New International Reader's Version

Cain and Abel

4 Adam loved his wife Eve and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the Lord’s help I have had a baby boy.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Abel took care of sheep. Cain farmed the land. ³ After some time, Cain gathered some things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering. He brought the fattest parts of some animals from his flock. They were the first animals born to their mothers. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering. ⁵ But he wasn’t pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was sad.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why are you looking so sad? ⁷ Do what is right and then you will be accepted. If you don’t do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It desires to control you. But you must rule over it.”

⁸ Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain replied. “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. ¹¹ So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from this ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you farm the land, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth.”