Genesis 4:2-13
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? 7If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.' 8Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?'
10Then He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground.
11Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.'
13Cain said to the Lord, 'My punishment is too great to endure!
King James Version
3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
9And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
6Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?
7If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."
10Then he said, "What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.
12If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
New Living Translation
Chapter 4
2Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4Abel also brought a gift — the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6Why are you so angry?' the Lord asked Cain. 'Why do you look so dejected?
7You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.'
10But the Lord said, 'What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 4
2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it."
8Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother 's keeper?"
10And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother 's blood is crying to me from the ground.
11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother 's blood from your hand.
12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
13Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
New International Version
Chapter 4
2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
10The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
New King James Version
Chapter 4
2Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
10And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
11So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”
