Genesis 4:1-15

Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Eve said, “With the LORD’s help, I have given birth to a man.” After that, Eve gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel took care of flocks, and Cain became a farmer. Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God. Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected. The LORD asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you look so unhappy? If you do things well, I will accept you, but if you do not do them well, sin is ready to attack you. Sin wants you, but you must rule over it.” Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out into the field.” While they were out in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Later, the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain answered, “I don’t know. Is it my job to take care of my brother?” Then the LORD said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. And now you will be cursed in your work with the ground, the same ground where your brother’s blood fell and where your hands killed him. You will work the ground, but it will not grow good crops for you anymore, and you will wander around on the earth.” Then Cain said to the LORD, “This punishment is more than I can stand! Today you have forced me to stop working the ground, and now I must hide from you. I must wander around on the earth, and anyone who meets me can kill me.” The LORD said to Cain, “No! If anyone kills you, I will punish that person seven times more.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain warning anyone who met him not to kill him.