Genesis 4:1-15

New American Standard Bible 1995

Cain and Abel

4 Now the man ^[a]had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to ^[b]Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a ^[c]manchild with the help of the Lord.” ² Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And ^(A)Abel was ^(B)a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ So it came about ^[d]in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. ^4 (C)Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And ^(D)the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; ⁵ but ^(E)for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So ^(F)Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “^(G)Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? ^7 (H)If you do well, ^[e]will not your countenance be lifted up? ^(I)And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, ^(J)but you must master it.” ⁸ Cain ^[f]told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and ^(K)killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “^(L)Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰ He said, “What have you done? ^(M)The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. ¹¹ Now ^(N)you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ^12 (O)When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; ^(P)you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” ¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! ¹⁴ Behold, You have ^(Q)driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and ^(R)I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and ^(S)whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵ So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him ^(T)sevenfold.” And the Lord ^[g](U)appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.