Cain and Abel — the First Murder

4:1-16

4 Then the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain. And she said, “I have obtained a man with Yahweh!” 2 Then she continued on to bear his brother Abel. Now Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain became a worker of the ground. 3 And it happened in the course of days that Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering to Yahweh. 4 And Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flocks and some of their fat. And Yahweh looked favorably on Abel and his offering. 5 But he did not look favorably on Cain and his offering. So Cain burned with intense anger, and his face fell. 6 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you burning with anger? And why is your face fallen? 7 If you do right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Then Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And it happened while they were in the field, then Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

9 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 Then he said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 So now 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 will not continue to yield its strength for you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13 Then Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, today you are driving me from the surface of the ground, and I will be hidden from your presence. And I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and it will be that everyone who finds me will kill me!” 15 Then Yahweh said to him, “For that reason, anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over!” Then Yahweh put a mark on Cain so that everyone who found him would not strike him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of Yahweh and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.