Cain and Abel. 

Genesis 4:1-16

Bible Stories

Genesis 4:1 Truly, Adam knew his wife Eve, who conceived and gave birth to Cain, saying, “I have obtained a man through God.”

Genesis 4:2 And again she gave birth to his brother Abel. But Abel was a pastor of sheep, and Cain was a farmer.

Genesis 4:3 Then it happened, after many days, that Cain offered gifts to the Lord, from the fruits of the earth.

Genesis 4:4 Abel likewise offered from the firstborn of his flock, and from their fat. And the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his gifts.

Genesis 4:5 Yet in truth, he did not look with favor on Cain and his gifts. And Cain was vehemently angry, and his countenance fell.

Genesis 4:6 And the Lord said to him: “Why are you angry? And why is your face fallen?

Genesis 4:7 If you behave well, will you not receive? But if you behave badly, will not sin at once be present at the door? And so its desire will be within you, and you will be dominated by it.”

Genesis 4:8 And Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go outside.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and he put him to death.

Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he responded: “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:10 And he said to him: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the land.

Genesis 4:11 Now, therefore, you will be cursed upon the land, which opened its mouth and received the blood of your brother at your hand.

Genesis 4:12 When you work it, it will not give you its fruit; a vagrant and a fugitive shall you be upon the land.”

Genesis 4:13 And Cain said to the Lord: “My iniquity is too great to deserve kindness.

Genesis 4:14 Behold, you have cast me out this day before the face of the earth, and from your face I will be hidden; and I will be a vagrant and a fugitive on the earth. Therefore, anyone who finds me will kill me.”

Genesis 4:15 And the Lord said to him: “By no means will it be so; rather, whoever would kill Cain, will be punished sevenfold.” And the Lord placed a seal upon Cain, so that anyone who found him would not put him to death.

Genesis 4:16 And so Cain, departing from the face of the Lord, lived as a fugitive on the earth, toward the eastern region of Eden.