Bible Account – Cain and Abel

The True Account of Cain and Abel

 

All verses are CEV.

Genesis – Chapter 4

 

Cain Murders Abel

1Adam and Eve had a son. Then Eve said, “I’ll name him Cain because I got him with the help of the LORD.” 2Later she had another son and named him Abel. Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land. 3One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the LORD, 4and 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, 5but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

6The LORD said to Cain:

What’s wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face? 7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. 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! 8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go for a walk.” And when they were out in a field, Cain killed him. 9Afterwards the LORD asked Cain, “Where is Abel?”

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

10Then 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. 11And so, I’ll put you under a curse. Because you killed Abel and made his blood run out on the ground, you will never be able to farm the land again. 12If you try to farm the land, it won’t produce anything for you. From now on, you’ll be without a home, and you’ll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.

 

13“This punishment is too hard!” Cain said. 14“You’re making me leave my home and live far from you. I will have to wander about without a home, and just anyone could kill me.” 15“No!” the LORD answered. “Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times worse than I am punishing you.” So the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn everyone not to kill him.

16But Cain had to go far from the LORD and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.

Go Back