Genesis 4:3-11

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,^{(A) 4} and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,^{(B) 5} but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.^{(C) 6} The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? ⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

⁸ Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.”^[a] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.^{(D) 9} Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰ And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen, your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!^{(E) 11} And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.