Genesis 4:6-16

English Standard Version

⁶ The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ^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?” ¹⁰ And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood ^(E)is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now ^(F)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 ^(G)punishment is greater than I can bear.^{[d] 14} Behold, ^(H)you have driven me today away from the ground, and ^(I)from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, ^(J)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 ^(K)sevenfold.” And the Lord ^(L)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,^[e] east of Eden.