Blessed Are the Forgiven

A Maskil^[a] of David.

Cain and Abel

4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten^[a] a man with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. ³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of ^(A)the fruit of the ground, ⁴ and Abel also brought of ^(B)the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord ^(C)had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but ^(D)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 (E)If you do well, will you not be accepted?^[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. ^(F)Its desire is contrary to^[c] you, but you must rule over it.”

⁸ Cain spoke to Abel his brother.^[d] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and ^(G)killed him. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, ^(H)“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 ^(I)is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now ^(J)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 ^(K)punishment is greater than I can bear.^{[e] 14} Behold, ^(L)you have driven me today away from the ground, and ^(M)from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, ^(N)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 ^(O)sevenfold.” And the Lord ^(P)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,^[f] east of Eden.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Since then we have ^(A)a great high priest ^(B)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, ^(C)let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest ^(D)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been ^(E)tempted as we are, ^(F)yet without sin. ^16 (G)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

5 For every high priest chosen from among men ^(H)is appointed to act on behalf of men ^(I)in relation to God, ^(J)to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ^2 (K)He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself ^(L)is beset with weakness. ³ Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins ^(M)just as he does for those of the people. ⁴ And ^(N)no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, ^(O)just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ ^(P)did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

⁶ as he says also in another place,

⁷ In the days of his flesh, ^(S)Jesus^[a] offered up prayers and supplications, ^(T)with loud cries and tears, to him ^(U)who was able to save him from death, and ^(V)he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although ^(W)he was a son, ^(X)he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ And ^(Y)being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest ^(Z)after the order of Melchizedek.