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Genesis 4:8-16
New International Version
Genesis 4:8-16
New International Version
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.(A)
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”(B)
“I don’t know,(C)” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.(D) 11 Now you are under a curse(E) and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you.(F) You will be a restless wanderer(G) on the earth.(H)”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence;(I) I will be a restless wanderer on the earth,(J) and whoever finds me will kill me.”(K)
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[b]; anyone who kills Cain(L) will suffer vengeance(M) seven times over.(N)” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence(O) and lived in the land of Nod,[c] east of Eden.(P)
Footnotes
- Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”
- Genesis 4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well
- Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14).
Genesis 4:8-16
King James Version
Genesis 4:8-16
King James Version
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?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
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Genesis 4:8-16
English Standard Version
Genesis 4:8-16
English Standard Version
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother.[a] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel 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 my brother's keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood (C)is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now (D)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 (E)punishment is greater than I can bear.[b] 14 Behold, (F)you have driven me today away from the ground, and (G)from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, (H)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 (I)sevenfold.” And the Lord (J)put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod,[c] east of Eden.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field
- Genesis 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear
- Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering
Genesis 4:8-16
New American Standard Bible
Genesis 4:8-16
New American Standard Bible
8 Cain [a]talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and (A)killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “(B)Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? (C)The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11 Now (D)you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 (E)When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; (F)you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14 Behold, You have (G)driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and (H)I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and (I)whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him (J)seven times as much.” And the Lord [b](K)placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.
16 Then Cain left the presence (L)of the Lord, and [c]settled in the land of [d]Nod, east of Eden.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 4:8 Lit said to
- Genesis 4:15 Or set a sign for
- Genesis 4:16 Lit dwelt
- Genesis 4:16 I.e., wandering
New International Version (NIV) 
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
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New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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