The Story of Cain and Abel

4:1 Now* the man had marital relations with* his wife Eve, and she became pregnant* and gave birth to Cain. Then she said, “I have created* a man just as the Lord did!”* 4:2 Then she gave birth* to his brother Abel.* Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.*

4:3 At the designated time* Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering* to the Lord. 4:4 But Abel brought* some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattest* of them. And the Lord was pleased with* Abel and his offering, 4:5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased.* So Cain became very angry,* and his expression was downcast.*

4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? 4:7 Is it not true* that if you do what is right, you will be fine?* But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching* at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”*

4:8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”* While they were in the field, Cain attacked* his brother* Abel and killed him.

4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”* And he replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?”* 4:10 But the Lord said, “What have you done?* The voice* of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 4:11 So now, you are banished* from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 4:12 When you try to cultivate* the

ground it will no longer yield* its best* for you. You will be a homeless wanderer* on the earth.” 4:13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment* is too great to endure!* 4:14 Look! You are driving me off the land* today, and I must hide from your presence.* I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.” 4:15 But the Lord said to him, “All right then,* if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.”* Then the Lord put a special mark* on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down.* 4:16 So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod,* east of Eden.