Font Size
Genesis 4:7-9
New International Version
Genesis 4:7-9
New International Version
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;(A) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.(B)”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.(C)
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”(D)
“I don’t know,(E)” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Footnotes
- Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”
Genesis 4:7-9
New King James Version
Genesis 4:7-9
New King James Version
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is [a]for you, but you should rule over it.”
8 Now Cain [b]talked with Abel his [c]brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and (A)killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, (B)“I do not know. Am I (C)my brother’s keeper?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 4:7 Lit. toward
- Genesis 4:8 Lit. said to
- Genesis 4:8 Sam., LXX, Syr., Vg. add “Let us go out to the field.”
Genesis 4:7-9
King James Version
Genesis 4:7-9
King James Version
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Read full chapter
Genesis 4:7-9
English Standard Version
Genesis 4:7-9
English Standard Version
7 (A)If you do well, will you not be accepted?[a] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. (B)Its desire is for[b] you, and you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother.[c] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and (C)killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, (D)“I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]?
- Genesis 4:7 Or to, or toward, or against (see 3:16)
- Genesis 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.