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One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the Lord, (A) and Abel also gave an offering to the Lord. He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the Lord the best parts of it. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

The Lord said to Cain:

What's wrong with you? Why do you look so angry? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling.[a] But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don't let it!

(B) Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go for a walk.”[b] And when they were out in a field, Cain attacked and killed him.

Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel?”

“How should I know?” he answered. “Am I supposed to look after my brother?”

10 (C) Then the Lord said:

Why have you done this terrible thing? You killed your own brother, and his blood flowed onto the ground. Now his blood is calling out for me to punish you.

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Footnotes

  1. 4.7 you would be smiling: Or “I would have accepted your offering.”
  2. 4.8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's … walk.” Most ancient translations; Hebrew “Cain spoke to his brother Abel.”

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering(A) to the Lord.(B) And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions(C) from some of the firstborn of his flock.(D) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,(E) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?(F) Why is your face downcast? If 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;(G) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.(H)

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.(I)

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”(J)

“I don’t know,(K)” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”