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Genesis 4:7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Genesis 4:7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
7 If you act rightly, you will be accepted;[a] but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.(A)
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- 4:7 You will be accepted: the text is extraordinarily condensed and unclear. “You will be accepted” is a paraphrase of one Hebrew word, “lifting.” God gives a friendly warning to Cain that his right conduct will bring “lifting,” which could refer to acceptance (lifting) of his future offerings or of himself (as in the Hebrew idiom “lifting of the face”) or lifting up of his head in honor (cf. note on 40:13), whereas wicked conduct will make him vulnerable to sin, which is personified as a force ready to attack. In any case, Cain has the ability to do the right thing. Lies in wait: sin is personified as a power that “lies in wait” (Heb. robes) at a place. In Mesopotamian religion, a related word (rabisu) refers to a malevolent god who attacks human beings in particular places like roofs or canals.
Genesis 4:7
New International Version
Genesis 4:7
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)”
Genesis 4:7
King James Version
Genesis 4:7
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.
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Genesis 4:7
New King James Version
Genesis 4:7
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.”
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- Genesis 4:7 Lit. toward
Genesis 4:7
English Standard Version
Genesis 4:7
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.”
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- 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)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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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.