¹² We should not be like ^(A)Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? ^(B)Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

⁴ By faith ^(A)Abel offered to God ^(B)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And ^(C)through his faith, though he died, he ^(D)still speaks.

⁴ and Abel also brought of ^(A)the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord ^(B)had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but ^(C)for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ⁶ The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ^7 (D)If you do well, will you not be accepted?^[a] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. ^(E)Its desire is contrary to^[b] you, but 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 ^(F)killed him. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, ^(G)“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 ^(H)is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now ^(I)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 ^(J)punishment is greater than I can bear.^{[d] 14} Behold, ^(K)you have driven me today away from the ground, and ^(L)from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, ^(M)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 ^(N)sevenfold.” And the Lord ^(O)put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.

²⁵ And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed^[a] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”

¹¹ Woe to them! For they walked in ^(A)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain ^(B)to Balaam's error and ^(C)perished in Korah's rebellion.

⁵¹ from the blood of ^(A)Abel to the blood of ^(B)Zechariah, who perished between ^(C)the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be ^(D)required of this generation.

³⁵ so that on you may come all ^(A)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous ^(B)Abel to the blood of ^(C)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,^[a] whom you murdered between ^(D)the sanctuary and ^(E)the altar.