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.